August 5th, 2014 brought Rick and I down to UNM for their Student Veteran Resource Day.
Our info booth.
Executive Director Rick Iannucci gave a slide show presentation to the assembled veteran/students explaining about our programs complete with a short Question and Answer period.
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In the days to follow we were back in the saddle with our veteran sessions.
Junior and Sarah, Jack and Nancy after a great session!
Some horse exercise for Knight while Nancy and Dillon worked together on direction and collection.
USAF Airman Dillon and Star ~ Both shine. NICE!
Cowboy Up! Instructor Chris goes over brideling with Sarah.
Afterward the girls pratice their new roping skills after having Chris share his knowledge that Mr. Henry McKinley imparted on him.
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On August 14th it was time for the cows to go back to the Rez with Alroy...
...BUT not before having a little bit o' fun with the girls!
Sorting and gathering in our NO stress way.
Team work always makes the job go smoothly.
A blessing to have Alroy's dad and Johnny with us.
Bunkhouse time brings out some good stories.
Father and Son. True Navajo warriors and our honored friends and brothers.
USAF veteran Matt back in town for a visit.
Rick and Eric working with Matt on refining movement cues and keeping his horse tuned up.
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August 16th we got up bright and early for a Veteran Healing Retreat at the Canossian Spiritual Center in Albuquerque. This retreat was sponsored by the Catholic War Veterans.
We were honored to have Archbishop Michael Sheehan of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe open the sessions with his wit and wisdom.
Archbishop Michael Sheehan sharing a light moment with our crew and three generations of family; Paul Duran, Nick Trubiano( Rick's nephew), Rick Iannucci and Jerry Iannucci ( Rick's dad).
Some quiet time and a chance for reflection at the Canossian's labyrynth.
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We managed to get back to the ranch to work the rest of the week in between the much welcomed rain. But we did get rained out one day so Paul invited us up to see his families place up north....
Absolutely beautiful along the Chama River!
Then we traveled just a short drive up the road for a visit to Christ in the Desert Monastery. As usual the Benedictine monks extended their characteristic hospitality making the rainy day visit to this beautiful and prayerful place very special. Check it out at www.christdesert.org
Told ya it was raining! These guys were so muddy they had to ride in the back of the truck.
A welcomed stop on the road home for a traditional New Mexcio din-din, green and red..dessert too!
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Once the rain cleared next day we were back out working in the arena.
Bareback really helps to work that centered seat.
Nice job Bianca, Hollywood, Sarah, and Star!
Paul hitting a lope!
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September 1st, 2014 brought us back to the Laguna Pueblo to help our Sedillo Cattle Association partners with branding and doctoring remnants
Dawn on the REZ and our crew standing by and ready to rock!
L to R Bianca, Sara, Marco, John, Eric, Andrew, Rick I, Rick R, Paul & Nancy aka Cowgirl Chancy!
Catching horses.
Jessica and her horse getting ready to gather.
John all ready to go.
Heading out on the range.
While back at camp Andrew, John and Marco unload wood.
Pastor Rick practices his roping skills.
Here come the cattle.
Paul takes time to show Marco how to properly sharpen his pocket knife.
Branding iron fire getting hot!
Prayer before working. Rick had the honor of doing the opening prayer for this working.
Elder Stan shows Paul how they pick a calf from the herd to rope.
John and Jameson head and heel, while ground crew is ready to help.
Momma oversees her calf is taken care of.
Catchin' a ride.
With the remnants branded, the guys prepare for the next stage.
Gather and...
Rick hangin' around with John Romero.
It's gonna be a long day!
Carmen welcoming Rick into the "office" to get vaccinations for the calves.
Jessica hard at work recording.
Movin' the girls up the alley.
John Romero and Rick health check and doctorin'.
Sometimes the girls need a little help moving through the line.
Here is what's on the other side of the chute.
Andrew and Paul work the gates and help sort.
Working is done and lunch shared among friends.
Doesn't get better than this! Friends, food and fellowship.
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Soldiers Heart Workshop
We headed up to Colorado to participate and complete 18 hours of Continuing Education for the
Restoring Soul and Society from War Workshop put on by Soldier's Heart, a non-denominational group of clergy, care-givers and chaplains who are extending their respective ministries to the veterans community. We were honored to be invited and participate.
Discussing the issues we face with reintegration
9-11/ veterans remembrance altar. We contributed a piece of the WTC and mementos from Rick's friend , SEAL Team commander Lt. Mike McGreevy who lost his life during Operation Redwings.
Rick reading the opening prayer.
We visited "Remember" in honor of 9/11 the next day.
Designed by local artist Pat Olson, Remember honors
the victims of the 9/11 attacks and serves as a kindled reminder to those who
still live.
The most remarkable feature of the September 11 luminary is perhaps the iron object that is suspended between the acrylic towers. The Pentagon provided an actual piece of steel beam from the World Trade Center, weighing over 200 pounds, which serves as the centerpiece of the statue. The raw shape of the steel, obviously cut to size with a powerful torch, is a stark reminder of the effort that was undertaken to clean up Ground Zero.
The most remarkable feature of the September 11 luminary is perhaps the iron object that is suspended between the acrylic towers. The Pentagon provided an actual piece of steel beam from the World Trade Center, weighing over 200 pounds, which serves as the centerpiece of the statue. The raw shape of the steel, obviously cut to size with a powerful torch, is a stark reminder of the effort that was undertaken to clean up Ground Zero.
Designed by local artist Pat Olson, Remember honors the victims of the 9/11 attacks and serves as a kindled reminder to those who still live.
Remember is constructed of two transparent, 11” thick blocks of R-Cast® that were carefully crafted with details of the Twin Towers, right down to the arches above the lower floor windows and the spire atop the North Tower. The memorial’s lighting was, quite appropriately, designed by local firefighters and harmonizes perfectly with the reflective properties of R-Cast®, providing for the towers to shine with striking brilliance.
The most remarkable feature of the September 11 luminary is perhaps the iron object that is suspended between the acrylic towers. The Pentagon provided an actual piece of steel beam from the World Trade Center, weighing over 200 pounds, which serves as the centerpiece of the statue. The raw shape of the steel, obviously cut to size with a powerful torch, is a stark reminder of the effort that was undertaken to clean up Ground Zero. - See more at: http://www.reynoldspolymer.com/page.cfm?pageid=29458&articleid=5740#sthash.WEmqihhx.dpuf
Remember is constructed of two transparent, 11” thick blocks of R-Cast® that were carefully crafted with details of the Twin Towers, right down to the arches above the lower floor windows and the spire atop the North Tower. The memorial’s lighting was, quite appropriately, designed by local firefighters and harmonizes perfectly with the reflective properties of R-Cast®, providing for the towers to shine with striking brilliance.
The most remarkable feature of the September 11 luminary is perhaps the iron object that is suspended between the acrylic towers. The Pentagon provided an actual piece of steel beam from the World Trade Center, weighing over 200 pounds, which serves as the centerpiece of the statue. The raw shape of the steel, obviously cut to size with a powerful torch, is a stark reminder of the effort that was undertaken to clean up Ground Zero. - See more at: http://www.reynoldspolymer.com/page.cfm?pageid=29458&articleid=5740#sthash.WEmqihhx.dpuf
Designed by local artist Pat Olson, Remember honors the victims of the 9/11 attacks and serves as a kindled reminder to those who still live.
Remember is constructed of two transparent, 11” thick blocks of R-Cast® that were carefully crafted with details of the Twin Towers, right down to the arches above the lower floor windows and the spire atop the North Tower. The memorial’s lighting was, quite appropriately, designed by local firefighters and harmonizes perfectly with the reflective properties of R-Cast®, providing for the towers to shine with striking brilliance.
The most remarkable feature of the September 11 luminary is perhaps the iron object that is suspended between the acrylic towers. The Pentagon provided an actual piece of steel beam from the World Trade Center, weighing over 200 pounds, which serves as the centerpiece of the statue. The raw shape of the steel, obviously cut to size with a powerful torch, is a stark reminder of the effort that was undertaken to clean up Ground Zero. - See more at: http://www.reynoldspolymer.com/page.cfm?pageid=29458&articleid=5740#sthash.WEmqihhx.dpuf
Remember is constructed of two transparent, 11” thick blocks of R-Cast® that were carefully crafted with details of the Twin Towers, right down to the arches above the lower floor windows and the spire atop the North Tower. The memorial’s lighting was, quite appropriately, designed by local firefighters and harmonizes perfectly with the reflective properties of R-Cast®, providing for the towers to shine with striking brilliance.
The most remarkable feature of the September 11 luminary is perhaps the iron object that is suspended between the acrylic towers. The Pentagon provided an actual piece of steel beam from the World Trade Center, weighing over 200 pounds, which serves as the centerpiece of the statue. The raw shape of the steel, obviously cut to size with a powerful torch, is a stark reminder of the effort that was undertaken to clean up Ground Zero. - See more at: http://www.reynoldspolymer.com/page.cfm?pageid=29458&articleid=5740#sthash.WEmqihhx.dpuf
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Dept. of Veteran Services PTSD Resource workshop 2014.
Once back home it was business as usual...
We set up our booth for Albuquerque's Veteran Resource Day.
L to r is Executive director Rick Iannucci with Cowboy Up! Grads and Instructors Erick Yorty and Chris Chaisson.
Another day of unloading hay with the help of...
...Keith Bates and his student driver crew from San Juan College.
...A few more loads...
...Then LUNCH!!!
More riding the next day...
Dillon on Hollywood and Nancy on Jack.
And Bianca on Junior and Sarah on Knight.
NM STATE FAIR 2014 MILITARY & VETERANS DAY
Setting up Hollywood's corral right on a soggy Main Street!
Our poor neighbor Manny, don't worry he came to our tent to get out of the rain.
L to r: Hollywood, Rick and Eric.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Kuklis visiting his buddy Hollywood.
The kids loved 'em and appreciated his mellowness
