Testimonials
"It will always be a great honor to get to know brave Veterans who have been through such hard-to-believe life altering sacrifices! They are always so humble and appreciative of anything we can help give back to them. One thing they never lost is their pride for serving our country. We also understand how important new challenges, adventures and passions need to be shared with their families and caregivers, who also continue to make incredible sacrifices. We want to help give back to them too! Please keep supporting what’s important to our defenders after they’ve put their lives on the line for what’s been important to us... our freedom.”
Linda Kelly, ONF President
"Our Veterans made deep sacrifices for this country, and it’s our responsibility to support them when they return home. One of the most meaningful services we can provide is the opportunity to heal in the company of other Veterans. And I can think of no better place to provide that experience than in Montana with Operation Never Forgotten."
Jon Tester, U.S. Senator for Montana
"Operation Never Forgotten is a great organization here in the United States that has answered the call to address the overwhelming task of helping our wounded warriors recover from lifelong injuries received in combat. I have been the spokesman for ONF for several years. We’ve been involved in awareness campaigns to bring attention to the many men and women who serve in the military. In 2011, we’ve added a new program, SAS (Sports, Afield & Stream). SAS is a hands on commitment to honor and assist these brave soldiers to find their strength and begin to focus on their future. Many challenging winter and summer activities are offered to those who come to Big Sky Montana and discover life is worth living again. Founder, Linda Kelly, and her wonderful staff provide a myriad of outdoor activities for soldiers and family alike, which include outdoor sports and adventure, housing, food, entertainment and encouragement to support their recovery. Our websites give an overview of the vast opportunities available to those who participate."
"This brings me to the most important part. The number of soldiers we can help depends on donations from public and private sources. Our first year of SAS invited 65 soldiers and their families to the events in Montana. It was a tremendous success! We could have invited many more but the funds were just not available. We are optimistic however that in 2012, both our summer and winter programs will be able to help a larger number of soldiers. Please give what you can to assist us in all that we do to give courage and hope to these wounded warriors. We owe them so much!"
Lee Greenwood, Singer, Writer, Entertainer
ONF Spokesman
Council Member for the National Endowment of the Arts
"It was with great trepidation that I accepted Linda’s invitation to speak about survivor guilt at the first annual SAS project banquet. Being the inspiration behind Linda starting the ONF organization, I took this very personally and seriously.
As you warriors already know, survivor guilt is very personal and individual and not well done in a large group format. But to honor my son, I accepted the invitation to speak. I simply told my story and how I am dealing with survivor quilt and the choices I faced and continue to face on a daily basis. Being at this event and participating was my way of honoring the wounded warriors in attendance and my opportunity to give my personal thanks for their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families.
Getting to know many of the warriors one-on-one were some of the best experiences I have had in my entire life! I am so proud of each of these warriors and their families for their determination to live the best life they can and live it to its fullest. No sitting in the background for this group. They went ice climbing, skiing, snowmobiling, dog mushing and many other things they never thought would be possible for them again or hadn’t even tried before this event. To see the families and caregivers of these warriors participating with them was heartwarming and brought some tears to my eyes.
The entire experience, especially the friendships I made with many of these warriors, has been a blessing for me that continue as I keep in contact with them. It has also helped me continue to deal with my survivor guilt. The activities were wonderful, but the friendships were the most important to me and many of the warriors I met. The contacts made at this event are lifelong and the camaraderie as well. I left the event with a feeling of excitement again about my own life and future. I told Linda I didn’t know when I would touch ground again because it had been such a wonderful, inspirational experience. I am looking forward to meeting you at our next event in July 2012."
Peg O’Donnell, Gold Star Mother
"I would like to thank all the volunteers, staff and sponsors that helped with the ONF/SAS January 2011 event. I have been to several events that were set up for the Wounded Warrior, but with ONF their attention to detail and organization of the event were amazing. They had a variety of activities/classes so everyone had something to participate in. I had the pleasure of meeting many new and wonderful people. I have physical injuries that limited me from doing certain activities but never felt like I was alone. Linda, John, the volunteers, all the people involved with the event show such compassion and honor for the Wounded Warriors, and shows it through ONF/SAS."
Mike Mills, Minnesota, SFC MNARNG (retired), OIF III Veteran, Wouned Warrior Guest from SAS 2011
"ONF Founders, Advisors, staff and SAS sponsors provided me new opportunities to challenge myself physically and mentally to overcome disabilities from wounds. When you endure injuries and suffer loss in service, it is easy to feel like you are going it alone. Families then have to face these issues of recovery first hand, hopefully with guidance from others. By coming to events like SAS you meet others on their journey of "recovery and rehabilitation" from their service and sacrifice. Being able to meet, share and encourage others to seek different types of care is something that is not provided while in the service; and is even harder when you return home. SAS events - remind us all, that we must continue on living life to its fullest - whatever your disabilities may be. It reminds us all, that if we improvise in our live circumstances, and adapt to deal with our disabilities we can and will overcome the barriers we often mistakenly create that rob us of our passions, goals and futures. I found all events and activities were masterfully supervised and taught by expert instructors in their craft and I thoroughly enjoyed the workshops provided by all the sponsors. Hearing the salutes from our representatives in government, sports and entertainment were very heartfelt. Meeting Lee Greenwood and Mark Sweeney in such a personal setting was pretty amazing, having loved their work in entertainment and supporting our troops for years. It was an uplifting experience and sharing time with American Legion members, fellow wounded warriors and their caregivers in Bozeman, Big Sky, and Yellowstone National Park will be my fondest memories of SAS 2011 in Montana. A heartfelt "Thanks to all" who donated to this project."
Joe, Michigan, Wounded Warrior Guest of SAS 2011
“As we raised enough money, we invited yet another warrior to experience the challenges, comradeship and healing this event could provide them. They came from Florida, Massachusetts, Alaska, Nevada and points in-between. The warriors ranged from blind, burned, amputees, wheelchaired, traumatic brain injury and PTSD. It was several great days and memories for all of us. The most impressive example for me was the blinded trooper who proved that she could still ice climb a vertical wall, which was something she loved to do before her injury."
"There were so many wonderful moments, smiles, sharing and love for one another experienced during those days. It was truly worth every hour and dollar we contributed knowing we helped in the healing of those who sacrificed so very much for us. We no sooner recovered from this first SAS event, and Linda and I began talking about doing another big event at Big Sky. We hope that with our Lord working through us again, and our contributors, we are able to help 50 more wounded warriors experience the beauty of Montana.”
John Kinzinger, ONF Vice President, HHC 2/7, 1st Cav Div, 1966-67, Retired Ford Motor Company Engineering Supervisor, 2003 Michigan Veteran of the Year, 2007 VVA National Member of the Year, VFW Post 423 Commander, 2007-2011, 2010-2011 VA National Male Volunteer of the Year
If you came to Big Sky as a guest to last year's SAS event, volunteered or contributed, and want to say a few words, please contact Linda at linda@operationnf.org.