I want to tell you about my best friend, Pat.
First, the audience should know that Pat hated attention. Around big crowds, he became shy, almost bashful. So I'm writing a public article about him. I'm using his story to help veterans establish a new passion in life. I'm using his name to create a way of peace for combat veterans. I'm using his memories so veterans may find a passion for the Rocky Mountains. I'm using my heart to help save the lives of struggling combat veterans. Because my best friend, Pat, was found deceased Christmas morning, 2024. He was the one person I wasn't able to save.
I grew up with Pat and his family. Pat's mother, Patty, is an angel. She cared very much for her three boys. Pat has two younger brothers, Drew and Kevin. I could go on about the talent his brothers had in athletics and academics. Pat's father, Rick, was my football coach until college, and a very good one.
Pat and I enjoyed the mountains together. After every football game senior year, we took a trip through Daniel’s Park to listen to the elk bugle in September. At night, we would sit on a ridge, and if we were lucky, we could hear them fighting. There were not many days we spent apart. We painted houses together in the summer. Our backpacking and camping trips were as often as we could get out to the Rocky Mountains.
September 11, 2001. The Twin Towers were hit. Pat and I were 17 years old. We were angry and motivated for the opportunity to go overseas. We decided the United States Marine Corps was the best way to get involved. The Marines accepted Pat. I was not as fortunate. My deteriorating shoulders kept the Marines from accepting me.
Pat served his four years with the Marines. His experience is something he never shared. Like many veterans, Pat found the bottle after combat. Alcohol was his coping mechanism. He began to manage his depression with substances. Pat was fighting demons I didn't understand. In the middle of his legal battles, he had an unexpected child. This child and meeting his future wife pulled him off the bottle.
When Pat got sober, I fell into a darkness that's hard to describe. A bull-riding accident was the cause for a doctor to put me on OxyContin. I quickly developed a dependency. Pat saw I was struggling and stood by my side. He introduced me to recovery, and recovery brought me a life better than I could imagine.
In 2022, Pat's younger brother died unexpectedly. To cope, Pat started drinking beer. Shortly after he lost his brother, his mother-in-law hit her head and passed away. From there, the weight snowballed with Pat.
The reason I'm so successful with my clients is because I can relate with them. I was not able to relate with Pat.
His death was heavy, especially for someone who prides themselves on being able to help those willing to change their lifestyle. So I created Pat's Project. I want to help veterans connect with nature and find the same peace Pat found in the Rocky Mountains. I witnessed a man who had just lost his wife, brother, mother-in-law, and child find peace in the snow-capped Rockies. The clean mountain air lifted the weight off his shoulders. I may not be able to relate with combat veterans who fought overseas, but I can show them a place that will provide a never-ending power to healing.
Pat would not want me to continue repeating his name. But for the cause of helping other combat veterans, I believe Pat is grinning from above.