A group of retired generals has sent a letter to Congress underscoring the important role that public lands will play in post-pandemic healing for veterans.
The letter, organized by Vet Voice Foundation, urges the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act in the next economic stimulus as a means to expand access to the nation’s public lands.
“The connection between military veterans and our nation’s public lands is well-documented and in recent years has become much more publicized -- especially in the value of spending time outdoors to heal from traumatic experiences associated with one’s military service," the letter says.
The full letter and list of signers can be seen here.
The letter draws on the experiences of Army Brig. Gens. Nolen Bives and Steve Anderson, Army Maj. Gens. Paul Eaton, Eric Olson and Gale Pollock and Marine Corps Brig. Gens. Leif Hendrickson and Stephen Cheney, who have worked with veterans who used outdoor spaces to recover from trauma.
Through sea lion rehabilitation, veterans find their own healing
The Great American Outdoors Act would fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and provide additional money to close the maintenance backlog in America’s National Parks. According to the letter, the LWCF has invested $18.4 billion to preserve battlefields and other historic sites, protect iconic places from Grand Canyon National Park to the Appalachian Trail and have supported 42,000 state and local projects since its founding in 1994.
The act would also provide important economic stimulus for the rural and gateway communities and outdoor recreation businesses that help American’s experience nature. ‘
“In fact, we’re all going through an unprecedented and challenging experience right now due to COVID-19,’ the letter reads. “And, that’s the point. We’re writing this letter with the sincere hope that when federal, state and local officials determine it’s safe and following the shelter-in-place orders in response to COVID-19, individuals from around the country will be able to take a page from our handbook and use the power of public lands to heal and adjust to post COVID-19 life. It works.”
Federal lands contribute more than $50 billion to the American economy each year and support hundreds of thousands of jobs in local communities across the country.