[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5371]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             SHEPHERD'S MEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Reed). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, 13 men, 911 miles, and 1 week to make a 
difference.
  A group of brave warriors known as the Shepherd's Men set out on a 
journey that will take them from the Freedom Tower in New York City to 
the Shepherd's Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
  Every day, servicemen and -women from across our country return from 
the fields of combat only to fight another battle at home. While this 
battle may not include heavy artillery or enemy combatants, it is just 
as devastating.
  Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and traumatic brain injuries 
are disorders that take years--and sometimes a lifetime--to heal. These 
enemies invade the mind and cause unspeakable pain for those suffering 
and for their families.
  For this reason, 13 brave men, whose mission is to raise awareness 
and funding for those with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, have 
accepted the arduous task of running from the Big Apple to the Peach 
State.
  With each step forward, the Shepherd's Men are one step closer to 
reaching their goal of raising $250,000 for the Shepherd Center's SHARE 
Military Initiative, a comprehensive rehabilitation program that 
provides assistance and support for servicemen and -women who have 
sustained mild to moderate traumatic brain injury and PTSD from the 
conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  While the wounds may have been inflicted years ago, the scars still 
remain, and that is why the Shepherd's Men run 911 miles with 22-pound 
packs strapped to their chests.
  These courageous men do not run for their own glory, but for their 
fellow servicemembers whose lives may be forever changed by the effects 
of these conditions.
  Today, one out of five servicemembers returning home from Iraq or 
Afghanistan have been diagnosed with one of these debilitating 
conditions. If left unchecked, these injuries could be life 
threatening. As our servicemembers return home from Active Duty, it is 
important for them to know that they do not suffer alone.
  This morning, the Shepherd's Men are a few steps closer to reaching 
their final destination. As the Sun rose gently against the backdrop of 
the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Shepherd's Men arrived in our Nation's 
Capital. It was here--at the place that memorialized one of the most 
historic moments in our history--where I joined the Shepherd's Men for 
a short 1-mile run out of their 911-mile journey.
  As I stood in the shadow, Mr. Speaker, of the Iwo Jima Memorial, one 
of the Shepherd's Men following our run came up to me and said: When we 
go into combat, we know that we may not come back out. And I lost many 
of my men in combat, and I can accept that, but what is hard is when 
these men survive combat, and they come back home and lose their life 
to these debilitating conditions. That is hard to swallow.
  As a veteran of the United States Air Force, I am extremely grateful 
to the unwavering commitment the Shepherd's Men have shown to defend 
their fellow servicemen and ensure that they have the resources they 
need to begin their road to recovery.
  Although the road may be long and fraught with setbacks, people 
across this Nation are going the extra mile to ensure our 
servicemembers are given the help they deserve.
  To the Shepherd's Men, Godspeed on the rest of your journey, and 
thank you for your commitment to our Nation's military.

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