Jul 31, 2010

Important Film



Last night The Lensic and National Geographic Entertainment Presented RESTREPO - it was a Well Done and Important film. There was a post show with Director Tim Hetherington and Major Dan Kearney, and we were honored to visit with them at a private reception. Please see it!

In order for it to show in more theaters please call up your local theaters and ask them to book it. Then chat it up with friends, family, local community groups and get them to go. The better the film does, the more theaters it'll show in! Find out more about where RESTREPO is showing by finding them on Facebook.

RESTREPO is a feature-length documentary that chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley. The movie focuses on a remote 15-man outpost, “Restrepo”, named after a platoon medic who was killed in action. It was considered one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military. This is an entirely experiential film: the cameras never leave the valley; there are no interviews with generals or diplomats. The only goal is to make viewers feel as if they have just been through a 90-minute deployment. This is war, full stop. The conclusions are up to you.

See The Trailer

Directors Statement
The war in Afghanistan has become highly politicized, but soldiers rarely take part in that discussion. Our intention was to capture the experience of combat, boredom and fear through the eyes of the soldiers themselves. Their lives were our lives: we did not sit down with their families, we did not interview Afghans, we did not explore geopolitical debates. Soldiers are living and fighting and dying at remote outposts in Afghanistan in conditions that few Americans back home can imagine. Their experiences are important to understand, regardless of one’s political beliefs. Beliefs are a way to avoid looking at reality. This is reality.

~Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger

Jul 18, 2010

Galisteo Rodeo

Photo courtesy of Cowboy Up! participant and photographer Keith Coronel.

Following another great session with our combat warriors, Johnny, Sterling and Keith we headed out to the Galisteo Rodeo where we were guests of Amy Sena Rogers. Amy and her family have been producing what is probably the best little rodeo in the USA for 39 years. One of our staff Carl Hawkins of Hawkins Chuckwagon fame provided a delicious smoked brisket for sandwiches while Nancy De Santis made her grandma's redcabbage coleslaw. Rick, daughter Cris and Teal Hawkins tended the grill with hot-dogs and we didn't run out of sweet tea until the end of the day. Several of the contestants stopped by to say hello to our group which included the Director of the New Mexico Wounded Warrior Project, Terri Kreuger and her husband Dave, Cowboy Up! instructors Wes Studi and his wife his wife Mora, Mike Housholder, Thomas Wingate, Kenny Tomlinson and Brenda Niekirk. Silver and Saddle maker extraorinaire Clint Mortenson and Amanda Lange,Bonanza Creek Ranch Manager Steve Price and Jacinda Witt and fresh off of the Cowboys and Aliens set, lead wrangler Ed Pickard. From the Governors Rodeo Council Debbie & Bobby Borrego stopped by to see who was screaming their lungs out for daughter Shania as she competed in both breakaway roping and barrel racing...well, it was us! With the US and Military Order of the Purple Heart flags flying above our tent we all agreed that the highlight of the day was when 4 young "mutton busters", spurs, chaps and all, walked up to our combat warriors and one by one stretched a hand out and said " thank you for your service. sir".


Photo courtesy of our good friend, photographer and author of "Making a Hand", Gene Peach. Thanks for stopping by!

Jul 11, 2010

Moon

Ivan, is one of our earlier Horses for Heroes- participants who since we got him horseback has worked with us on spring brandings, fall gathers and who Cowboy'd UP! even getting his own horse. In fact Ivan's motivation and love of ranching and the cowboy way inspired in many ways what would take us from simple horse therapy to what has become our Cowboy UP! program.
Moon seen here in this picture has made full circle and is now here as our newest program horse generously donated by Ivan who is now working with champion cutting horses while he attends university.
Veterans helping veterans is a characteristic of what we do. It is the cowboy way! Thanks Ivan!

Jul 6, 2010

July 20th Zia Gives Back and to Cowboy Up!

Dear friends,

Please mark your calendars for July 20th, 2010 as Zia Diner will be donating 10% of their profits from 7am-10pm that day to our Horses for Heroes - Cowboy Up! Program.

Please help make the day's profits as big as possible by eating at Zia Diner that day and by spreading the word to everyone you know: e-mail your friends, post it on your website, or send it in your newsletters.

Many thanks!
Rick & Nancy




Zia Diner is located at:
326 South Guadalupe Street
Santa Fe, NM 87501-2649
(505) 988-7008
www.ziadiner.com

Jul 4, 2010

Happy 4th of July!