WWW.DRYHOOTCH.

ORG VOL 1 NO 1 JUNE 17, 2009

the Dryhootch Grind

Medical College of WI awards Dryhootch’s VeteranQuest
Dryhootch a Community Health Grant successful with vets from WW2,
Acknowledges needs of Peer to Peer Support to Korea, Vietnam, Iraq &
Returning War Veterans Afghanistan attending!

The Medical College of Through the grant, Dryhootch The 2009 Highground healing journey with the
Wisconsin has awarded Dryhootch is finishing our Mobile Canteen unique VesteranQuest taken on June 2, 3, and 4th
of America (a Veteran 501c3 non- that will serve as our outreach into for the WWII, Korean, Vietnam and Iraq War
profit) a Healthier Wisconsin the community. It will serve as our
veterans and their spouses or significant others is
Partnership Program Grant. The coffeehouse on wheels, a place to
program “Dryhootch: Veterans conduct surveys of veterans and to over.  The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for
using peer support to make sure provide information to troops, these veterans and subsequently how it affects
their comrades get the care they veterans, and family on programs family members was not a "cure" and not totally
need” will study how veterans and benefits they may not be over for these warriors, but during the three days
receive care, if at all for their aware they are entitled to. and two nights spent encountering and identifying
combat related PTSD. This data The grant will not allow any lessons of how to cope offered healing and
will allow Dryhootch and the funding for the building of the understanding to all of the participants. Courage
Medical College to determine how Dryhootch Center, so fund raising that helped them in combat now helped them
Peer Support can best be used to continues for this meeting places. meet the challenge of PTSD.
reach those veterans who for many Through the experienced direction of Dr. Murray
reasons do not seek care from the Look for our Mobile Canteen,
or invite us to your Chapter, Post Bernstein, the groups were led through Native
Veterans Administration.
or community event. American techniques that addressed emotions
and behaviors.  (-continued page 2 -)
THE DRYHOOTCH UPDATE
bank account, no debt, & a growing
Its been a busy year since Dryhootch kicked
community of support. We took over 30 vet’s
off its launch at last years Reclaiming Our
to the Highgrounds for 3 days of healing and
Heritage Event in 2008. Since then we have
achieved a small grant from the Medical
carried our coffee & message from Church
College of WI. Now our goal is to open our
Services, to Chapters & Post meetings, events
doors to begin the healing in our community,
with Guitars for Vets, with a group of artists in
first on a part time basis, then full time. We
Chicago, and to PTSD groups with our newest
need your support to provide a place for
brothers & sisters from their wars in Iraq &
veterans who survived the war, but struggle
Afghanistan. This year we have built a small
with the peace.

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 WWW.DRYHOOTCH.ORG VOL 1 NO 1 JUNE 17, 2009

Calendar
June 19-21st 2009
Wings Over Waukesha

June 27th, 2009

RECLAIMING OUR HERITAGE 2009 - BEGINNING YEAR TWO
2008 we appeared at ROH with a
borrowed tent and a vision. This year
was an astounding success. Our tent
included music all weekend from
Guitars for Vets, the Close ENUF
band, and Jim, our nam brother from
Naples.
We had two Afghanistan Marines
present their stories of their tours on
Sunday, and we had actors from
Chicago’s Vets Art Project perform
letters from the war.
In the library we hosted Art from the
Vietnam National Art Museum, the art
of Jeanine Hill-Soldner, who’s
Scrape & Paint Event
July 3rd, 2009
paintings of her family during war
were haunting in their beauty. War Memorial, Milwaukee Fireworks
It was also a place of reflection, July 5th 2009
where veterans and family members Summerfest
of war and service could sit with a
great cup of coffee or tea, have a July 18th, 2009
brat or roll and enjoy the peace of the LaoHmong National Celebration
hallowed grounds that offered peace
and healing to veterans ever since July 23rd - 26th 2009
the Civil War. WI State American Legion Convention
Who knows what the next year will
bring. Thanks to everyone who’s
helped us along our path in year one.
And to those we have yet to meet.

VeteranQuest (continued from page 1) The sacredness of

the symbols by focusing on the use of smudging, to
cleanse; a drumming circle to communicate with self
and the group; the pipe ceremony, making of tobacco
bags, crafting the dream catchers, instruction of
meditation for the one and half hours the first day and
two and half hours of the vision quest was eagerly
practiced. The teaching of holistic approaches to
healing to be used after their departure of this
experience was finalized by the exit circle. The
symbolic stick of the veterans healing was deposited on
the blanket in the middle of the circle and then taken by
the women into the woods and completed by a fond
welcome home ceremony that signaled the rekindling
of the spirit to relax and enjoy and find a healing place
for each. The last evening meal shared together at the
motel (which also served as the headquarters for the Dryhootch of America Inc
group,) brought positive responses to the surveys (a veterans 501c3 nonprofit)
VA Medical Center
completed before the departure the next day. Coming
5000 W National Ave
to terms with the post traumatic stress disorder Box 117
provided a final promise of great hope for the year that Milwaukee WI 53295
lies ahead. www.dryhootch.org

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