Wild Appalachia: Patriots 4 Outdoor Resort
PARSONS, W.Va. (WCHS) — Hearing a gunshot isn't uncommon during late-fall in West Virginia as buck gun season is the most popular hunt of the year.
Just outside of Parsons in the mountains of Tucker County, there's a place where anyone - even our disabled veterans - can also find the hunt of their dreams.
"Patriots 4 is all about being able to provide back to our veterans and have a place for them to come and get away from the, you know, hustle bustle of life. Hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, canoeing and all of the above, anything outdoors related. We like to be able to provide that for them," Patriots 4 board member Patrick Lundy said.
David Kennedy, who served in the Navy from 1996 to 2007, can't praise the organization enough.
"I'm telling you; this is a great organization. Patriots 4 has done numerous things. Coming out here, doing this, this is very therapeutic for me, and I know it's very therapeutic for others," Kennedy explained.
Lundy said everything at the resort is free for injured heroes.
"There is no cost involved. They can come out twice a year with their families. You know, wife, children or husband, children, whichever way it may be," Lundy said. "Everything is provided. The cabins here, they could stay in that for free. We provide the food while they're here for them."
Even the processing of an animal, and taxidermy is free due to generous donations and fundraising.
"That includes physical disabilities, mental disabilities or whatever that may be," Lundy added. "We try our best to accommodate in any way, shape or form if we can."
There's even a hydraulic tree stand for those that need wheelchair assistance.
"We call it the hunt master, but it will fit a wheelchair hunter. They can wheel their wheelchair inside of a hydraulic tree stand that's totally enclosed. They wheel in there, and we normally can get two others, maybe three other people in there comfortably with them. From the inside, they can hit a button and it hydraulically lifts them 25 feet in the air."
Lundy will never forget the first time he saw how important these hunts are.
"I went out and got to experience the excitement and joy of this very young individual who was in Afghanistan and wasn't in the best spirits in life and had never been hunting before. He was just offered it up. He came out, and the joy and excitement he had when he was able to come out and take a deer for the first time and really just feel normal again, I would say," Lundy recalled. "I knew right then that I loved it and if I could be a part of putting a smile or joy on somebody's face like that, I was in for it. The truth is, if I could quit doing what I did for a living and do this, I'd do it in a minute."
That joy was shared by David and his son, Bradley, on this day.
"I'm here with my son, Bradley. He got his first deer this morning, a 100 yard yard shot," David said. "I'm so, very proud, very proud. I recommend all vets to go online, look up Patriots 4 and opportunities that they have," David advised. "They do events throughout the year."
Even if you can't be here, you can still help our veterans.
"If there's anyone out there willing to look them up and would love to donate time, money, land or anything like that to the organization to help our veterans out, that would be great," Kennedy added.
