by 
Local VFW members were on hand to welcome and assist two veterans on their Warrior Hike. From left are, Margarito Bejarano, Dewayne Goad, Frank Martinez and Dave Ray. Dewayne and Dave are hiking the 800-mile Arizona Trail.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Local 2767 has helped another group of veterans while they are participating in a Warrior Hike. The Warrior Hike is a therapy program for veterans sponsored by the non-profit organization Warrior Expeditions. They support returning combat veterans transitioning from their military service by participating in long distance outdoor hiking expeditions.
Warrior Expeditions provides them with everything they need to complete the long distance hike at no cost to the veteran. They are outfitted with high quality outdoor equipment and clothing. They are issued a $300 monthly stipend and provided with resupply items. Warrior Expeditions coordinates community support from veteran and community organizations along the hiking route that provide transportation, lodging and food.
Two veterans are currently hiking the 800-mile-long Arizona Trail from the Mexican border to Utah. The veterans are Dewayne Goad and Dave Ray.
Dewayne is from Portage, Michigan. He is a U.S. Army veteran who was deployed in Kosovo and Iraq. He served in the military from 1981 – 2005. He was a tank system maintainer.
“The hike has been challenging,” Dewayne said. “It has been good for me. I have had a lot of time to think and clear my mind. It gets things out and allows me to focus.”
Dave is from Beckley, West Virginia. He served in the Marine Corps from 2000 – 2005. He is an Iraq veteran serving as a logistics systems operator. He is the head football coach at Beckley Tratton Jr. High School. When asked how he was doing on the hike, he said, “So far so good. I left some pieces of me along the trail.” He said they have seen a Gila monster and a scorpion which is a new experience for someone from West Virginia. They got to “hang out” with a magician named Dana that they met on the trail.
The two veterans were met by two local Vietnam War veterans from the VFW in San Manuel, Frank Martinez and Margarito Bejarano. Frank and Margarito drove Dewayne and Dave to the San Manuel Lodge where they spent the night free of charge courtesy of the hotel. Frank cooked dinner for them that evening and they were driven to any store if they needed to pick up any supplies. The following day they were driven back to the Arizona Trail entrance off of Highway 77 near Oracle. They then continued their journey north.
Thank you, Dave and Dewayne, for your service and good luck on the Arizona Trail.
If you would like to learn more about Warrior Expeditions click here or visit their Facebook page.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
by by