Heroes on the River: Combat Veterans Skydive at Front Royal Warren County Airport

“I believe it is what I was put on this earth to do.”

Adam Packham spoke candidly about Heroes on the River, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that serves combat veterans through outdoor adventures. Since its founding in 2016, Heroes on the River has proudly served over 2,000 combat veterans through skydiving, hiking and camping expeditions, charter fishing trips, winter sports, and connecting veterans with appropriate resources for education, employment opportunities, disability claims, and housing. At the Front Royal Warren County Airport on August 1, skydiving was the focus for combat veterans, creating an adrenaline-inducing experience that might inspire them to relive their tours in a completely safe, positive setting with their families.

Combat veteran Doc Crump was honored at the Skydive Front Royal event for combat veterans after he completed his skydiving experience. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh

“It is definitely therapy,” Packham elaborated. An Army veteran who comes from a family with a legacy of military service going back to the Civil War, he perceives a need for proper transitioning among combat veterans returning from war. Heroes on the River can serve as that channel in concert with community players who believe in this organizational mission. Many veterans who have seen combat return from their deployment in isolation, lacking resources, and at risk for post-traumatic stress and even suicide. The non-profit seeks to bridge the gap, giving back to those who have given everything. These at-risk individuals are craving an adrenaline high that was associated with trauma. Outdoor adventures with family are designed to transition them back into the rhythm of domestic life.

A combat veteran completes the dive.

“It’s in my DNA,” Packham reflected on military life. He has a passion for keeping veterans connected to their military community, where he has seen a high success rate among participants who have communicated that Heroes on the River is exactly what they needed. That brotherhood, that sisterhood, is what the non-profit is about. For Packham, who does not personally profit from this endeavor, the reward is witnessing those connections develop among heroes who might otherwise be forgotten by society.

To learn more about Heroes on the River or to get involved, go to www.heroesontheriver.org