Highlighted Stories

By Donna J. Bell Director of Communications Integrated Veterans Affairs At the top of Snowmass this year, Jorge DeCastro-Cordeiro paused and looked out over the mountain. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a minute. He steadied himself, settled into the moment, and gave silent homage to his son. “Snowmass is a mountain of healing,” he said, describing the moment. “You can feel it up here.” A retired Army Ranger, who served 22 years with multiple deployments, DeCast

By Medina Ayala-Lo Bay Pines VA Public Affairs Officer From his first exhilarating descent down the slopes, Kevin Beck was hooked. Whether it was carving through the powder in Japan or schussing the Swiss Alps, there wasn’t a mountain range the U.S. Navy Veteran encountered that he did not yearn to traverse. Skiing became more than a pastime; it became a passion imparted to his children and one he indulged in at every opportunity. That is, until the events of that life-alteri

By Donna J. Bell Director of Communications Integrated Veteran Care From the outside, Zack Tidwell looked like he had everything under control. In 2019, he was constantly on the move, juggling a full-time job while also attending college. A U.S. Marine, who served from 2014 to 2018, Tidwell was a self-described adrenaline junkie. Skiing, dirt bike racing, daily gym sessions, Jiu-Jitsu – he pushed himself, the Devil Dog way. But hiding within was a mental turbulence he couldn’

Bailey Breving VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Public Affairs Specialist For U.S. Air Force Veteran Salvador Vasquez, the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic is about more than just skiing, it’s about reclaiming strength and confidence after devastating injuries. Now in his fourth year attending the clinic, the Gulf War Veteran continues to push his limits in new ways. This year, that challenge meant skiing without ski poles, something he had depended on in