KINGSTON, N.Y. — The Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration is sponsoring a five-day, four-night, 45-mile kayak trip down the Hudson River as a salute to the 800,000 Americans who served in the Afghanistan War.
Veterans will start their trek on Sept. 29, launching their kayaks from the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston. Their journey will end Oct. 3 at Fort Montgomery, in Orange County. A formal ceremony recognizing the kayakers will be held at 1 p.m. that day at Fort Montgomery.
Kevin Kearney, executive director of the Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration, said the recent U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has triggered post-traumatic stress syndrome among many veterans — not only of the nation’s longest war but from all eras.
“The center typically serves about 45 veterans and their families each month,” Kearney said. “With the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, we are already seeing an increased demand for our services. The need in our community for peer support, counseling, referrals and therapeutic services we provide is significant.”
“Post-traumatic stress syndrome, PTSD, that’s what many Afghanistan combat veterans returned home with, including myself,” said Jessica Bugbee, an Army combat veteran and Bronze Star recipient who is participating in the kayaking event, called Vets on the Hudson.
“These five days on the water are proof that we can survive and thrive,” Bugbee said. “That’s our message to fellow veterans.”
The Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration is encouraging other kayakers and boaters to join the event by paddling with them from any one of the departure sites.
For more information and a list of departure sites and times, go to hvcvr.org/vets-on-hudson.
