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Thank vets by protecting public lands

I want to thank The Durango Herald for its recent assertion that a good job is a great way to show gratitude for a veteran’s service (editorial, Herald, Nov. 11). As a veteran of two tours in Iraq with the United States Army, I agree that there are more meaningful ways to thank us “than bunting or a parade.”

Equally as important, though, are protections for our local public lands. The backcountry has a certain therapeutic quality that played a crucial role in my reintegration back into society – a common experience for veterans across wars and generations. An overwhelming majority of veterans in the West support federal protections for our wild places.

I’ve personally experienced the positive impacts of public lands on a returning soldier’s mental and physical health. I’m an avid climber, hiker and biker, in part, because those activities afford me an adrenaline rush and sense of accomplishment that I miss from my time in the Army.

Public lands like those slated for protection in the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act provide a guaranteed opportunity for us to find solitude, reconnect with our families and enjoy pushing our physical limits through recreational activities such as hunting, fishing and mountain biking. There are more than 4,200 veterans living in La Plata and San Juan counties, and each of us took an oath to protect and defend this country. That includes not only our communities and way of life, but the lands we love.

U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, is a veteran, and I thank him for his continued service to our country and leadership so far on protecting Hermosa Creek. I, like many in our community, voted for Rep. Tipton because he understands the importance of protecting our wild spaces here in Southwest Colorado. The best way to show gratitude to us for our service is to participate in the democracy we fought to protect. Let Rep. Tipton and Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., know that protecting our local public lands is important to you and to our local veterans.

Steven Groetken

Durango



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