B次元官网网址淲e are still here, we are still warriors, and we are still fighting.B次元官网网址�

That was the message organizer Rob McNeill had for the gathered first and second B次元官网网址榬otosB次元官网网址� of this yearB次元官网网址檚 Operation Pegasus Jump at the Campbell River Airport on July 13.

McNeill was speaking as part of the ceremony celebrating the accomplishments of the first roto (rotation) of jumpers to complete this yearB次元官网网址檚 program. The jumpers had done five jumps, and spent the week building a sense of camaraderie and support for post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues.

B次元官网网址淭odayB次元官网网址檚 very unique in respect that this is the overlap day of the two (rotos). Because we always have the last day of the first roto be the first day of the second roto. All the vets are on the ground together and widens the net,B次元官网网址� McNeill said.

***

For veteran Brendon McKenna, parachuting from an airplane has been a goal driving him since he was a young man.

Thanks to Operation Pegasus Jump, he was finally able to earn his wings.

McKenna joined the Army Cadets when he was young living in Hamilton, Ont. Through that, he was introduced to the Third Royal Canadian RegimentB次元官网网址檚 paratroopers.

B次元官网网址淕rowing up through all my teen years, I wanted to be the best cadet that I could,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭o do that, I had to try and embody the best of what those paratroopers brought to the table.B次元官网网址�

Through the cadet system, he trained hard to be able to take parachute training. However, with that first opportunity he was unable to pass the course.

B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 again till I joined the Royal Canadian regimen itself as an adult that I specifically asked to be put to my company so I could get another chance of being a paratrooper,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲orking in the light infantry is probably one of the best and hardest things IB次元官网网址檝e ever done. I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 trade it for anything but it is hard on the body.

B次元官网网址淚 ended up with a shoulder and neck injury before I was able to complete my parachute training the second time. So thatB次元官网网址檚 been something stuck in my side,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hen I left the military many years later still not have completing my parachute training, it was a resentment that I carried around with me. I was trying to find my place in society and measure myself as a person. I had made up my own standard of what it meant, and I hadnB次元官网网址檛 achieved it.B次元官网网址�

ThatB次元官网网址檚 where the annual Operation Pegasus Jump comes in.

B次元官网网址淥peration Pegasus Jump is a PTSD mental health event for veterans and first responders serving military people and the purpose of it is to try and curb the suicide rate amongst people with operational stresses,B次元官网网址� said McNeill. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like a grassroots movements where veterans are starting different things like Pegasus to try and help. ItB次元官网网址檚 becoming the veterans helping the veterans now.B次元官网网址�

The organization and event is not just for armed services veterans. Recently it was expanded to include first responders. Participants spend the week on site, sharing camaraderie. They learn how to properly jump from airplanes, with the goal of completing five jumps by the end of the week. Skydiving is not all they get, however.

B次元官网网址淲e have a mental health professional B次元官网网址� that comes in and he talks about mental health and pdsd and how to not really how how to deal it but how how to help start the healing process because everybodyB次元官网网址檚 different right?B次元官网网址� McNeill said.

B次元官网网址淭he key to this whole thing that weB次元官网网址檙e doing is weB次元官网网址檙e trying to create basically a safety net. We have a lot of veterans that are so tired of trying to deal with the government and VA to get benefits or just to get the help they need B次元官网网址� These people here actually care about each other B次元官网网址�. they know each other. TheyB次元官网网址檝e shared that and bonded over that experience, which for us is skydiving.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭his was a lifelong journey for me to to be part of this brotherhood. The airborne brotherhood,B次元官网网址� said McKenna. B次元官网网址淥nce youB次元官网网址檙e in, youB次元官网网址檙e in.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been out here for a month backpacking and traveling around before this experience and kind of deciding why why is a veteran now that IB次元官网网址檓 retired and IB次元官网网址檝e overcome obstacles and injuries. Why am I going to jump out of this perfectly good airplane again, and I knew exactly why because itB次元官网网址檚 been in my heart my whole life,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of us veterans are carrying these demons that nobody else can see or understand B次元官网网址� I just encourage anyone whoB次元官网网址檚 in a similar position struggling with being a homeless veteran, or with substance abuse to get out here and try it.B次元官网网址�

***

On Thursday, the landing zone was designated DZ Remembrance.

B次元官网网址淲hen we sat down to give a name to our landing area, thereB次元官网网址檚 a military tradition that we always name a landing area after a fallen person. We sat in here with the military guys and there were so many names we had. How do you pick?B次元官网网址� McNeill said. B次元官网网址淲hat we decided to do is call It Drop Zone Remembrance in remembrance of everybody.B次元官网网址�

At the beginning of the ceremony, the two rotos marched out to the landing zone, parade style. Four flags, the Canadian Flag, the Indigenous Canadian Flag, the Operation Pegasus Flag and the Afghan Fallen Flag were jumped into the ceremony by Jen Mackinnon, Mike B次元官网网址淢ackoB次元官网网址� Cyr, Darryl Cattell and Adam Hanna respectively. After that, the rotos closed ranks around the landing zone, which Shawn Decaire blessed with eagle down and Bob Rhett said a prayer.

The culmination of the evening was when the pipe band played Amazing Grace and those gathered spoke the names of their fallen comrades aloud.

The evening also included speeches from dignitaries, sponsors as well as a barbecue afterwards.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e here. WeB次元官网网址檙e healing weB次元官网网址檙e opening doors, and weB次元官网网址檙e helping people,B次元官网网址� Mcneill said. B次元官网网址淭he beauty of it is thereB次元官网网址檚 no politics and itB次元官网网址檚 just itB次元官网网址檚 just a place of healing.B次元官网网址�

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