'It just changed our life:' Giving back to Hawaiʻi's wounded veterans
Jan 04, 2025
HONOLULU (KHON2) -- It's never too late to give back to the community. The Wounded Warrior Ohana kicked off the year by giving back to hundreds of military personnel who sustained injuries while serving the country.
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Nearly 300 wounded warriors, families and Gold Star families from all branches of the military gathered on Saturday, Jan. 4 for a festive Christmas gala.
"We call them healing events, where the whole family comes out. This is the biggest one of the year," said Dick Rankin, Wounded Warrior Ohana president.
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The nonprofit treated guests to a buffet dinner, mingling activities and more for folks to enjoy, from a gingerbread house competition to face painting.
Even though it's January, Santa Claus also worked a little overtime to bring personal gifts for all the kids.
We bring the entire family out because we know some of these wounded warriors are suffering here from PTSD, and they don't like to talk. They get out here and they kids get a chance to talk to them, and they talk to other kids, and some wounded warriors are talking to other wounded warriors. So that's why I call it a healing event.
Dick Rankin, Wounded Warrior Ohana president
Wounded Warrior Tristan Leopard is a retired Navy veteran, serving as a corpsman for the Marines. This event is his first experience with the Wounded Warrior community.
"I never took advantage of these opportunities that the Wounded Warriors gave us prior and then just recently, I've taken advantage of it. My wife opened that door to me and it just changed our life. They're so giving. We always have so many things they give to us and very supportive of what we need," Leopard said.
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Leopard added the community provides a brotherhood where anyone can relate on common ground and local style.
The non-profit gives back to Hawaiʻi's wounded veterans and their families year-round.