Through Thick and Thin: Focus on Veteran Encouragement and Restoration

Camaraderie comes in many forms, from combat deployment to live-fire ranges, or field exercises. To ruck marches to morning PT sessions and back-to-back hour-long death by Powerpoint mandatory annual training. Service members almost always had a battle buddy there soldiering through it together. But, civilian life is much different and for some of us, the loneliness and lack of connectivity with others make even the most mundane aspects of life sometimes hard to bear. That is why there are many on this side of the DD-214 who have dedicated themselves to walking side-by-side with veterans through thick and thin, ready to encourage and help bring restoration to our warrior spirit. We speak with three men who have dedicated themselves to that cause today.

During this episode of the #StillServing podcast, Host Rob Couture speaks with Stuart Taylor, President & CEO of the Allied Forces Foundation who describes the challenging, yet rewarding events his charity puts on for veterans from both sides of the pond. Ken Faulk, Founder and Chairman of the Bouldercrest Foundation, talks about his retreat setting in Northern Virginia and how it's helping veterans and their families cope with past traumas and feel whole again. And extreme sports enthusiasts and veterans advocate Ricky Falls shares his passion for bringing awareness to the plight of homeless veterans by way of a long-distance cycling trip.

Stuart Taylor, President & CEO, Allied Forces Foundation —

• Stuart shares his deep military roots which span multiple countries and multiple centuries. [4:11]

• The Allied Forces Foundation is driven to support wounded or injured warriors in events that foster communication and rehabilitation. [12:00]

• A Cateran Yomp and the upcoming Appalachian Yomp is a heroic, restorative event that blends personal experiences with marching and traditions. [17:18]

• How to register to participate or volunteer for the Appalachian Yomp on the Allied Forces Foundation website. [34:30]

Ken Falke, Founder & Chairman of the Boulder Crest Foundation —

• Ken pursued a military career as a Ceremonial Guard and EOD after playing professional hockey. [45:01]

• After selling A-T Solutions, Ken began to assist the families of wounded EOD personnel and the project morphed into the Boulder Crest Foundation. [51:21]

• Boulder Crest works in alignment with a posttraumatic growth program to build confidence. [1:00:06]

• Ken shares a story of Admiral James Stockdale and how he reinstated hope to returned POWs. [1:03:24]

• The Appalachian Yomp begins at the Boulder Crest retreat center and goes to Harper's Ferry. [1:09:30]

Ricky Folse, Extreme Sports Enthusiast, and Homeless Veterans Advocate—

• Ricky assists homeless veterans by raising awareness during a long-distance biking trip that ends in our nation's capital. [1:15:23]

• In an upcoming fight, Ricky is working with the promoter to have the fight of the night trophy named to honor a WW2 veteran. [1:25:32]

• To donate to Ricky's Veterans Day century ride to help homeless veterans visit Ricky Fit on Facebook. [1:29:13]

For more information or continue the conversation, please visit:

Veterans of Foreign Wars Website

VFW Podcast Page

@VFWHQ on Twitter

VFW on Facebook

@RobCoutureVFW on Facebook

VFW Unmet Needs Program

Call 1-888-JOIN-VFW

Text "NEEDS" to 20222 to donate to the Unmet Needs Program

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Allied Forces Foundation

Boulder Crest Foundation

Rick Fit on Facebook