Danny McAuliffe
The state offers a unique experience for wounded veterans to connect with each other on the home front.
And Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is helping get the word out about the program — Operation Outdoor Freedom — as state offices observe Veterans Day.
“Operation Outdoor Freedom is a special way of connecting the natural resources and beauty our state is blessed with to the men and women of our armed services who have courageously sacrificed for our nation,” Putnam said.
The term-limited Agriculture Commissioner established the recreational and rehabilitative program in 2011 to provide wounded vets with opportunities to connect outdoors in state forests and other holdings at no charge. It’s overseen by the Florida Forest Service, a division of Putnam’s Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services agency.
There are three Operation Outdoor Freedom camps: Camp Prairie in Lake Wales, Peace River Camp in Arcadia and American Warrior Pride Lodge in Hernando. All camps “are outfitted to accommodate the needs of every wounded veteran participating in the program,” according to the state.
But events also occur in other areas across Florida, regularly on state forests, private lands and along the coast. They are funded by private donations.
To be eligible, veterans must either have a Purple Heart or meet the service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or greater from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
On Sunday, the program partnered with the Davie Golf Club to host a golf tournament benefitting the program.
Operation Outdoor Freedom typically hosts events that allow participants to fish, hunt, boat and do other Florida-based outdoor activities. A series of deer, hog and turkey hunts are listed in the program’s upcoming events.
Added Putnam: “Providing our wounded veterans opportunities for recreation and rehabilitation in Florida’s great outdoors is the least we can do, and I’m incredibly proud of the growth of this program and the number of veterans we’ve been able to reach.”
Earlier this year, Putnam was recognized by the Purple Heart Veterans of Florida for his work to establish Operation Outdoor Freedom. The group awarded the Commissioner with the Military Order of the Purple Heart Distinguished Service Award.
