Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/207831
Sarasota News Leader November 8, 2013 Page 99 A number of the participants come directly from a hospital environment — Walter Reed, Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX; and Haley in Tampa. Some of them already have been discharged. is they just want to be treated like human beings," Blackketter points out. Paul Blackketter, the former Benderson Development executive who is president of the organization that oversees events at Benderson Park, understands only too well what Kenney means. "It's about making them feel normal," Blackketter says of the veterans; not special, he stresses, but normal. And that is one of the biggest goals of the adaptive rowing program at the park, Blackketter points out. Universal Studios, for example, or take sailing excursions. An Army veteran who remains in the Army Reserve, Blackketter joined the Army National Guard in 1984 and was commissioned in the Army in 1990. He was deployed to Iraq twice, in 2002 and in 2004. He readily acknowledges he had PTSD problems himself, and "I have a lot of friends who aren't doing as well as me." Kenney's response? "'I'm so glad you said that, because I feel the same way,'" Thom recalls. "In an effort to not have their disability define them," he says, "we try to expose them to things they feel like they can't do," Moreover, "The retreats are designed to give them a he adds, "We don't set out to do any therapy respite, a break," and help them reintegrate conspicuously. We hope that the therapy happens seamlessly." into society, Kenney continues. "I really like Many of the early to have the veterans retreats in Sarasota that have significant Their reality was my worst i n v o l v e d h u n t i n g , injuries," he adds. "A lot of things we do nightmare. … My opportunity to give back fishing and golf, he adds. Other, family are activities that a lot is … what drives me. retreats organized of them feel like they Maj. Kevin Kenney by Operation Second can't do anymore, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Chance allowed and we've been pretty veterans and their successful." loved ones to visit When Thom came to Sarasota on his first retreat, he says, "I was the worst [Kenney] had seen. He took that as a baseline." With another of his hearty laughs, Thom describes how Kenny had him up early and out all day, day after day, for wild hog hunting. Finally, Thom says, he had to tell Kenney, "I am wore out." Thom also met Kenney's son, Lyle, who was helping coordinate the activities. "It was just a really good trip," Thom adds. The second time he and his wife, Samantha, came to Sarasota, Kenney had arranged for "The biggest thing [for the veterans visiting the veterans to take a charter boat excursion the area through Operation Second Chance] to fish for tarpon.