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By Scott Fishman
| South Florida Sun-Sentinel - August 31, 2008
For many
returning soldiers, the scars of war linger in
their minds. These psychological wounds leave
many feeling they have nowhere to turn.
However, with
the recent opening of the new South Florida
Veterans Multi-Purpose Center in Davie, these
local heroes have a place to go.
The facility,
running on corporate and private donations,
offers a wide range of programs geared toward
helping soldiers and their families cope with
the aftereffects of war. Aside from counseling,
the facility takes them out of an office setting
and puts them in the pasture with the center's
developing Equine Assisted Therapy Program. At
the helm of it all is Executive Director Bob
Bambury, a Vietnam veteran.
During most of
his 18 years with the organization, Bambury
dealt with homeless veterans and assisted those
with substance abuse issues, physical
limitations and traumatic stress. This past
year, as plans for the facility were being
finalized, Bambury brought horses into the
program.
"I have been
involved with horses all my life," he said. "I
have always known that there is a tranquillity
to be found with interacting with horses. Any
horse person knows that the bonding relationship
one can make with a horse is a very powerful and
interactive experience."
Lorisa Lewis
has turned her love of horses into five years
practicing as a certified equine therapist and
is a licensed mental health counselor with more
than 21 years in the field.
"It's a
fabulous modality working with returning vets as
they reintegrate into what's going on in their
lives here," she said.
The center
provides veterans with day-use and weekend
retreat sessions with sleeping rooms on the
premises. They want to have weekends designed
for couples, as well as single male and female
soldiers.
"We'll have a
regular agenda," Bambury said. "We'll have
people come in with a mental health specialist
to talk about post-traumatic stress disorder and
marriage counselors to talk about the stress of
getting back home together. ... The male and
female soldiers will also be given the
opportunity to share their problems with others
going through the same issues."
The town has
been supportive of the organization's efforts.
Dignitaries attended the grand opening Aug. 3,
while others in the community looked to
volunteer.
"This is
something the rest of the country can look at
and see the benefits to it," Bambury said.
The center is
at 4311 SW 63rd Ave. For more information, call
954-791-8603 or 954-448-3843, or visit
www.southfloridavets.org. |
