Rallying Around Veterans in the Riverways

Park Rangers and Veterans help hold the American flag during a ceremony to honor Veterans and hike at Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

NPS Photo

November 2021: Ozark National Scenic Riverways and partners hosted events to show appreciation and promote parks as recreational opportunities for Veterans. This past weekend a ceremonial tribute and hike to honor Veterans took place, as well as a special managed deer hunt for mobility-impaired Veterans.

Thanks to all who came out to Rocky Falls to hike and honor our Veterans on Saturday. More than 40 people attended the opening ceremony before hiking out to Stegall Mountain and back or shuttling to Klepzig Mill and hiking back. It was a beautiful fall day for a hike and the trees were showing their best colors. Special thanks to the Ozark Riverways Foundation and the Ozark Trail Association.

Veterans pose for a photo before heading out to the woods in search of the elusive Whitetail.

NPS Photo

The Exceptional Warrior Mobility-Impaired managed hunt was conducted in partnership with the Foundation for Exceptional Warriors (The FEW), the Missouri Department of Conservation, S&T Taxidermy, Quilts of Valor, Outdoorsmen with a Mission, and Ozark Riverways Foundation. The FEW is a nonprofit organization that proactively and directly serves Exceptional Warriors who epitomize honor, valor, service, and sacrifice. The organization is helped offset hunting and lodging expenses for the Exceptional Warrior hunt participants. For more information on The FEW, visit their website at www.exceptionalwarriors.org, or phone [phone].

According to Superintendent Jason Lott, “We are pleased to once again offer these recreational opportunities in honor of individuals who have sacrificed so greatly for our country. I’m proud of the efforts put forth by our National Park Service staff and the outpouring of support from the local community over the past several years to make these an unforgettable experience for our veterans.

Veteran hunters gather after the day's activity to share stories.

NPS Photo