Five veterans’ journey back to civilian life will take them through Starke County in the coming days, and members of the Prairie Trails Club are stepping up to welcome them. Warrior Expeditions is a nonprofit group that helps veterans transition away from their wartime experiences through an outdoor therapy program.
One of this year’s trips is a 3,700-mile bike ride on the Great American Rail-Trail. That will bring them through the North Judson area on the Erie Trail, according to Prairie Trails Club Member Kathy Lucas.
“We have made arrangements to house them and feed them, and we’d like to do some other things with them, if possible, such as visiting the Starke County [Veterans] Memorial,” Lucas told the North Judson Town Council Monday.
The five veterans making the trip have been deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, or Somalia. At this point, it’s not clear when exactly they’ll arrive in Starke County, due to uncertainty with weather and other factors.
The Prairie Trails Club calls it a great honor to help them transition back to civilian life. But members say the expedition also illustrates the opportunities that come with being part of the transcontinental Great American Rail-Trail.
