A few days ago, I wrapped up our fifth year of leading a Sierra Club Military Outdoors trip that brings 50 of our nation’s veterans and their partners through the Green River in Utah’s Dinosaur National Monument. It’s no secret that veterans like me have become a significant voice of support in calling for protection of America’s public lands.
Why do we love our public lands so much? Because so many of us have felt first hand the incredible benefits of spending time in the country we fought to defend. Time outdoors for many of us, regardless of the wounds we did or did not receive, and regardless when we served, has given us a pathway to a healthier and more fulfilling life.