Michigan resident Rick Briggs is no stranger to serving his community. His spirit of volunteerism was something he passed onto his son, who served the military in Iraq. When Briggs' son returned from service, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. This lead Briggs to his next philanthropic venture. He and his partners built a campsite in Brooklyn, Michigan, where veterans could come and heal from their time in combat. Briggs is calling the 137-acre retreat Camp Liberty.
The camp has hunting blinds, a chapel, plenty of wildlife and greenery and houses in which veterans and their families can stay. Camp-goers will soon be able to take part in rehabilitation workshops and support group sessions. Briggs hopes that the informal environment will encourage veterans to open up and discuss their experiences.
"If they're out here in blue jeans and boots, and they can come sit in a [hunting] blind, they can get that vet to open up more and to talk about it," Briggs told Michigan Live.
Most of Camp Liberty, including the hunting blinds, is handicap accessible. Briggs wants to invite trauma counselors and physical therapy experts to lead rehabilitation workshops. He hopes his camp will become a safe haven for veterans across the country.