RUSKIN, Fla. — My Warrior’s Place is a colorful cabin jumble, set down near the Little Manatee River jungle. It’s a retreat where military veterans like Donald Behm can just go “ah”.
What does it do for his soul?
“It renews it. It renews it. It really does,” says Behm, a Vietnam War veteran from Michigan, as he looks out over the water. “I just can’t describe it. I feel safe here.”
And that’s exactly what Kelly Kowall intended when 11 years ago she started My Warrior’s Place.
Spurred on by the memory of her son Corey, who was killed while serving in Afghanistan, Kowall built this retreat for veterans, fire firefighters, law enforcement and their families.
“I’m here doing what God and Corey want me to do down here,” Kowall explained. “So that I can provide a healing sanctuary for those that have survived the battlefield, whether it be in theater or here on our own home front.”
My Warrior’s Place provides a curative combination of nature and conversation with folks who have walked in those same dusty boots. Kowall says it can be lifesaving.
“I have several stories of active-duty veterans that have flat out told that they were suicidal when they came here and that they left with hope,” she said.
And this retreat recently went through a battle of its own. Flooding from Hurricane Idalia rushed through four cabins and work is still going on to replace most everything.
And when this retreat isn’t being calm and peaceful, sometimes it’s exciting.
Kowall also boards service dogs. Most of the time, the service is for veterans who are in the hospital. But recently Chris Bolton was reunited with his dog Shadow after a 6-month deployment to Japan. Needless to say, on that day, there were a lot of smiles and tail-wagging going on.
My Warriors Place — where American Heroes find nature and nurture on the banks of the river.