Tag Archives: veterans

Why should you care? The National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center (NVW&HC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit is located in Angel Fire, New Mexico. The mission of the NVW&HC is to establish an environment that is responsive to the needs of veterans and military families using creative therapies and processes that focus on emotional and physical healing. What this means in practice is that veterans who have been diagnosed with PTS (Post Traumatic Stress) and spouses can attend retreats in Angel Fire, using the facilities of Angel Fire Resort and drawing on traditional and untraditional therapy methods. The couples are housed in the Resort hotel and all expenses of the retreats are covered by this funding, except for transportation to and from Angel Fire. Lisa Ling, a television journalist, did a documentary on one of the first retreats which was broadcast on the Oprah Channel. Here is a link for a five minute segment: http://www.oprah.com/own-our-america-lisa-ling/Invisible-Wounds-of-War-Breaking-Their-Silence In 2009, NVW&HC began retreats for veteran families who had been diagnosed with PTS (Post Traumatic Stress). Eleven veterans and spouses successfully completed the week-long retreat and have been celebrating their success since. We have continued to hold retreats every year since our inception and have a long list of satisfied couples.

Governor Susana Martinez put $350,000/year for four years for PTS counseling in her FY2015 budget, which was approved by the legislature. The program was competed and the MVW&HC was awarded the contract. This multi-year funding from the State of New Mexico will enhance our ability to continue these retreats. The plan now is to have a retreat in November 2014 and five more in the Spring 2015 ending before the end of the fiscal year on 30 June. We will then have three each half of the following fiscal years, covering approximately 350 couples over the next four years. This is New Mexico money for New Mexico veterans, but the NMW&HC will continue to raise money nationwide in order to include vets from other states. There is a waiting list for couples. Anyone interested in attending a retreat should contact LTC Chuck Howe, USA (ret), president of the NVW&HC, through its website at www.veteranswellnessandhealing.org More information about Angel Fire and the surrounding area can be accessed through the AF Village Visitor Center website at: http://www.angelfirefun.com/

The Angel Fire Resort website is: http://www.angelfireresort.com/ Here is a link to the nearby NM Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park: https://www.vietnamveteransmemorial.org/special-features/14/RecommendedLinks/