CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The support for local veterans was front and center with over 130 people attending the annual SAFE fundraising breakfast on Tuesday, November 10. The theme of the organization’s fourth annual breakfast as well as for the year is “Healing the Heroes Next Door”.
SAFE, Soldiers and Families Embraced, is a non-profit group based in Clarksville that offers free, confidential, and professional counseling to active duty military, veterans and their families. Tuesday’s breakfast raised over $16,700 to benefit SAFE’s work in the community.
The organization’s mission is to serve as a resource for the community to ease the readjustment and reintegration of members of the military returning from current wars and their families, as well as veterans from previous eras.
Long time SAFE supporter, Phil Harpel, was recognized with the Community Hero Award. For years, Harpel, Senior Community Banking Officer for US Bank, has shown exceptional support for the military and veteran organizations in the Clarksville/ Fort Campbell community.
Guest speaker for the breakfast was Tennessee State Senator Mark Green, who is a decorated veteran. Green talked about the trauma veterans have experienced in combat and said no human being can see the horror of war and come home unchanged.
“Our hearts bleed to nourish the wounds when they come home. And that organization called Soldiers and Families Embraced are the angels who care for those wounded as they come home and care for those family members as they come home,” said Green.
Another person who spoke was Aaron Voris, who served in Afghanistan with Fort Campbell’s 4th Brigade Combat Team and suffers from several traumatic brain injuries. Voris was joined by his wife and care-giver, Stephanie, and his service dog Harvey.
You’ll find SAFE at 510 College Street in Clarksville and they are open Monday-Friday from 9 am-4 pm. To learn more or to make a donation to support the continuing work of SAFE, visit www.soldiersandfamiliesembraced.org or call 931-591-3241.