'I feel safe here': Dripping Springs veterans resource hub officially opens
DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) – Veterans from across Central Texas came to a ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrating Patriots' Hall’s official opening.
The veteran’s resource facility was years in the making and cost over $10 million – $8.4 million of which was fundraised – to complete. The center is intended to support the military-to-civilian transition and provide education, employment opportunities, camaraderie and mental health support.
“Having a venue that allows veterans to come together and connect is something many take for granted,” said Scott McKean, a retired lieutenant general and Patriots’ Hall’s Executive Director. “As we found out, there aren't really [any].”
Between Fort Hood and San Antonio is the corridor with the densest population of veterans in the country, per Patriots' Hall.
Stakeholders at the event said this one-of-a-kind venue will fill a much-needed space in the region.
“We still have the challenges with suicides, there are the PTSD challenges, there's a host of challenges that bringing veterans together, folks who have a shared experience. Having that together in one location, really builds strength,” said McKean, who served for 33 years. “One of the common frames I've heard is, ‘I feel safe here.’ And that is a powerful statement.”
Nigel Fischer, a retired marine who served from 1993 to 2013, said when veterans transition out of the military, it can be difficult to form a community.
“Not all veterans are suicidal, not all veterans suffer from PTSD or traumatic brain injuries, and I think the stigma that comes from that is a challenge for us,” he said.
Fischer said oftentimes someone might judge a veteran as dangerous or unstable.
“Coming together in a place like this is really how we break down those stigmas. Then it draws more veterans out of isolation,” Fischer said. “Something like this today is a really powerful message and signal to our broader community, we need to come closer together, not further apart."