SUMMERS COUNTY W.Va. (WVDN) – What better way to spend the Memorial Day weekend than to hang out with a bunch of military veterans chasing wild boar? That is just what Elkins-based Warriors in the Field did at Mountain Meadow Hunting Preserve in Greenville, West Virginia. Founder Dave Whittaker and volunteers from Warriors; Johhny Ratliff, Chris Gilbert, Charlie Treadway, Leslie Hamrick, Joe and Angie Young, Tim Rose, Greg Bowman and Tom Conway were able to treat three very deserving veterans to a great weekend.
Veterans on this trip were all from the US Army; Doug Geary, Morgantown, West Virginia, Melissa Ratliff, Clarksville, Tennesse and John Collins, Hinton, West Virginia. All three veterans were able to successfully harvest a wild boar on the first day of the trip. This allowed the opportunity for the veterans and volunteers to experience some excellent fishing that was also available at the cabin. Several catfish and bass were caught making the weekend even more enjoyable.
Doug Geary said of the event, “This is the best time I have had in years. What a rush!”
Melissa Ratliff, whose boar was three times her size, said, “To be able to make this memory with my dad by my side is something special.”
John Collins very eloquently said, “What a Memorial Day Weekend! I want to shout a very special thank you to Thomas Conway Jr, Chris Gilbert, Johnny Ratliff and everybody involved with Warriors in the Field, Ltd for making this possible. Also, a huge shout out to fellow veterans Melissa Ratliff and Doug, I’m honored to have served with you and equally as honored to have harvested a beautiful animal and enjoyed the day alongside you. Lest we not forget the sacrifices made by our fallen Brothers and Sisters, to have made this glorious weekend holiday possible. God Bless!”
A special moment on the trip was a celebration of birthdays for Veteran Doug Geary and Veteran volunteer Charlie Treadway complete with cake and ice cream.
At the end of the day, everyone was treated to hamburgers, hotdogs and cake and ice cream. Each veteran was presented with a wooden plaque expressing the volunteer’s appreciation. These beautiful plaques were made by volunteer Greg Bowman and put very humble smiles on the faces of the veterans.
Warriors in the Field would like to thank the Lord for a beautiful blessed day and Smith Backhoe and Dozer Service in Elkins, West Virginia, and T&L Hotdogs in Buckhannon, West Virginia for sponsoring the trip. Thank you, as well to Mountain Meadow Hunting Preserve in Greenville, West Virginia for their hospitality and J and J Outdoor Video Magazine for filming the hunts. As always, the greatest measure of thanks goes to the wonderful veterans who have made and continue to make this all possible.
