Costco members show reverence to veterans and their families
A NATURAL APPROACH
“The challenges that combat veterans endure don’t end when they come home,” says Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation (WQW; warriorsandquietwaters.org) CEO Brian Gilman. “They have injuries that will last a lifetime.”
Based in Montana, WQW meets the needs of severely wounded, post-9/11 combat veterans through the respite
of nature. The nonprofit was founded in 2007 and Gilman took the helm in 2020, following a 26-year military career.
WQW provides nine-month pro-grams that include an initial visit and a capstone visit at the end of the program
to select U.S. destinations based on each participant’s interest in fly-fishing, hunting or photography. The organization also provides virtual programming that helps veterans readjust to everyday life following the trauma of combat. Gilman says that WQW is serving 320 veterans annually, with a 68% increase over the last three years.
1,300 veterans are currently on the organization’s waiting list. He adds, “Between now and 2028, we think we can get to serving about 500 veterans each year.”
Former Marine Corporal Justin Crabbe takes photographs during his Warriors & Quiet Waters experience.