When we met him in 2010, Army Sergeant John Moore was recuperating from an IED blast at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. The year prior, John was serving on his second deployment to Iraq as a Forward Observer when tragedy struck—an IED consisting of a double-stacked antitank mine exploded under the Stryker vehicle in which he was riding.
Read MoreFour Marines—who served together and bled together in our country’s wars overseas—reunited under a peaceful banner in Costa Rica this past November, as part of the Freedom Alliance Offshore Experience.
Justin is a Marine infantryman who fought in the invasion of Iraq with First Battalion, Second Marines. He then served with Force Reconnaissance and deployed to many of the hotspots in Iraq over the next six years. Derrick and Joe are both active-duty Marines, who have deployed and served diligently over the last 13 years. Tim is a Marine veteran from Montana who deployed four times to Iraq.
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In Costa Rica, mid-November is the beginning of the end for the period of rain known locally as the “green season.” And green is an accurate description, as the mountains are lush with vegetation from the constant rains of the previous months. Freedom Alliance was excited to reengage our activities at Los Sueños Resort and Marina, hosting three new groups for our Offshore Experience program (the last of which would be a couples’ retreat).
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For those who visit Costa Rica—whether to see the mountains, beaches, or jungles—they are all certain to find one thing in particular: peace. As Plato said, “Beauty is food for the soul.” And all come away from Costa Rica fully sated.
In contrast are the battlegrounds of war. Jungles and deserts, cities and farms—no matter the setting, war is ugly. Those we serve at Freedom Alliance—our military—leave the combat zone with crippling soul trauma.
But we think there is something to the beauty that Plato spoke of. Time and again, we see it infiltrate the chinks in the warrior’s armor, eventually seeping into the cracks of the heart and binding it back together.
Read MoreExiting the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica, two Marines suffered the usual barrage of queries from the cab drivers swarming the arrivals area. “You need taxi? You need taxi?”
As they walked past, searching for their contact, another voice broke above the clamor: “You need a helicopter? You need a helicopter?” Still surveying the area, Ryan, one of the Marines, said, “Ha, that would be nice, but we’re meeting someone here.”
When he glanced at the aggressive new hawker, he laughed to see his Freedom Alliance host, Pepper Ailor, who he had met at Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, some years prior.
Read MoreEvery April, Freedom Alliance and its band of patriotic supporters hosts a group of combat veterans for the ultimate vacation experience in Costa Rica. It is an annual event, now in its seventh year, we call the Freedom Alliance Heroes Vacation. This year, 17 combat veterans from all over the country were invited to enjoy a week of fun and adventure among a community of civilians devoted to spreading the message that their service and sacrifice is appreciated and not forgotten.
Read MoreI met Josh Shields, a young man from California, during the second leg of the Los Sueños Triple Crown billfish tournament. His grandfather, Bill Royster, introduced us, telling Josh about the work of Freedom Alliance, which he supports. Josh was interested and revealed his familiarity with the military subculture. When asked about this, he said his old roommate might be a good candidate for our program. “He fought in Fallujah,” he said with grim recollection.
Read MoreThe Marines lean over the balcony rails of the condo. Heartbeats slow as respirations grow. Below them lays a landscape like none other. A tranquil cove encircled by palms and beaches, which give rise to hills and forests and mountains. Seaside villas descend to the shore like stair steps, and boats glide to the bay or queue up in a tidy marina, all under the colors of a tropical sunset….
Read MoreOur very first Freedom Alliance Offshore Experience for veterans took place at the Los Sueños Resort & Marina in Costa Rica in December.
Read MoreLast year, Tournament Director Jasen Gast invited Freedom Alliance to be a beneficiary of the “fastest-growing billfish tournament in Texas”: the Texas Billfish Classic (TBC). Located in Freeport, Texas, the tournament consists of a patriotic and competitive crowd; and adding an element to honor our troops was a great fit.
Read More“It was the most incredible sight,” said Marine veteran David, “having a sailfish on the line when it suddenly leaps free of the water.” David was serving in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2006 and was critically wounded by a gunshot to the head. He was one of sixteen men of each branch of the military who had fought in Iraq and Afghanistan that were treated to a six-day experience at Los Sueños Resort and Marina in Costa Rica.
Read MoreOver the course of a day, these Freedom Alliance-sponsored veterans caught over 600 pounds of yellowfin tuna. . . . but the healing and restoration found on the open seas was worth its weight in gold.
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