Light of Day Event Aims to Connect Veterans to Resources, Community
Jeff Parkins and the organizers of the 2nd Annual Light of Day event want veterans to know that they are not alone.
The event, which kicks off Saturday, June 9th, is aimed at providing community and resources for veterans in Albany County.
“This event is for the Laramie community as a whole and specifically for our veterans. It’s a veteran’s resource event, with the goal of bringing together veterans and the community resources providers and just a bit of fun as well,” Parkins said.
The focus of Light of Day is veteran mental wellness, and the significant losses among veterans due to suicide, Parkins said.
Parkins said the event will bring together a number of resource booths focusing on a number of different resources for veterans and their families. Live bands, a guest speaker and Laramie food trucks will also be featured. Parkins said that in the morning and throughout the event there will be motorcycle rally. Parkins said it’s all part of the effort to bring the community and veterans together.
“For us, bringing our veterans and the community together in a way that helps encourage that interaction and discussion,” Parkins said. “For many veterans, when they come back it’s difficult to get back into the community and find the team around them, and kind of build that, so our hope is to encourage conversation around that and for veterans to know there is a team and community around them that cares.”
Connecting veterans to resources is an important part of the Light of Day event, too. Parkins said there are many resources available to veterans who might not be aware that they are there.
“There’s a lot of resources out there and a lot of organizations that are doing some really great things, people are not always aware of them or are intimidated to seek them out,” he said. “We want to provide a platform and a space where we can pull all of those great organizations and resources together.”
Parkins said the event was organized by himself and other community members including Laramie resident Craig Johnson and Marty Martinez, senior project coordinator for the Veterans Service Center.
The Light of Day event will be held at the Moose Lodge on 409 S. 3rd Street, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the entire community is welcome to attend.