By Brenda Cannon Henley
Toppling the best produced, highly budgeted, and well advertised movies from the No. 1 spot in America on this past weekend is a truly patriotic film, Lone Survivor. According to Terry Jung, executive director of the Lone Survivor Foundation headquartered in Houston, more than $38 million dollars came across the counters of movie theaters throughout the nation. A late afternoon press release detailed the fact that many of these same theaters were putting big name Hollywood movies aside to make room for additional showings of the film almost everyone seemed to want to see.

Both the book, written by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson, and the movie depict the story of Texas born Luttrell, who along with three other US Navy SEALs, left their base in northern Afghanistan for the mountainous Pakistani border. Their mission: to capture or kill a notorious al Qaeda leader. Less than twenty-four hours later, only one of those Navy SEALs remained alive.

“From the womb to the tomb…” – the mantra of twin Texas US Navy SEALs, Marcus and Morgan Luttrell.

The book and the movie is the story of team leader Marcus Luttrell and the desperate battle in the mountains that led, ultimately, to the largest loss of life in Navy SEAL history. But it is also, more than anything, the story of the men who fought ferociously beside him until he was the last one left. Luttrell recalls their valiant efforts in one of the most powerful narratives ever written about modern warfare — a stirring tribute to his teammates, who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. In the particular theater in Southeast Texas in which my husband and I viewed the movie on Sunday afternoon, grown men wept, and the entire audience sat completely still at the closing until when one man stood up and clapped his hands, the entire crowd erupted into a standing ovation. In talking with a friend in Pennsylvania who also saw the movie this weekend, she testified to the same thing happening where she viewed the movie. Viewers leave the theaters wanting to do something to help Luttrell and other veterans like him.

In the book and movie by the same name, Lone Survivor, Texas born Marcus Luttrell recalls one of the most valiant efforts ever fought in the Afghanistan Mountains by a team of US Navy SEALs. It has been called one of the most powerful narratives ever written about modern warfare. It is a stirring tribute to Marcus’ teammates who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and one readers and viewers will not soon forget.

Fortunately for Crystal Beach and Bolivar Peninsula residents, property owners, and friends, there just happens to be something wonderful you can be a part of concerning Luttrell, his fallen US Navy SEALs, and other veterans from all branches of our military. When Luttrell returned to the states, he set about to lend his name and his story to the creation of a ministry to service personnel returning to our country after serving in situations we can only imagine. He, along with other caring people, founded the Lone Survivor Foundation whose mission is to restore, empower, and renew hope for our wounded service members and their families through health, wellness, and therapeutic support.

“One of the most gripping and heartbreaking descriptions of heroism in combat to come out of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq…An astonishing survival tale,” wrote Fritz Lanham of the Houston Chronicle.

The need is great for these services. According to Jung, “Overseas deployments and combat action can take a serious toll on everyone involved — from the men and women on the front lines to the friends and families who wait patiently for their loved ones to return home. Transitioning to post-military life, whether wounded in combat or simply adjusting to the civilian sector, will often cause difficulty for the service member and his or her family.” Jung says, “We are here to help America’s wounded service members and their families adjust to the effects of their experiences by providing an understanding and acceptance of who they are as a person, a family, and a community.”

The Lone Survivor Foundation was established in February 2010 and Luttrell’s experience serves as the catalyst for the formation of the Foundation and his vision to give back to those who serve. The Foundation’s programs are based off of Luttrell’s recovery and the alternative treatments he used. Since the formation, the Foundation has raised over $4.3 million to benefit our combat soldiers who deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and chronic pain.

In November of 2013, BRINT Construction of Crystal Beach, Texas, joined with Lone Survivor Foundation to raise funding for and build a retreat facility on beautiful property on the Bolivar Peninsula. Completion of this project is planned for late 2014.

The Crystal Beach Facility will be comprised of two separate two-story buildings. There will be a Main House and a Conference Center/Staff House. There will be a deck that connects the two buildings with an elevator located between the two houses.

Outside, according to Brian Byrom of BRINT Construction, there will be plenty of decking upstairs for guests to enjoy the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, a flagpole, and a fire pit downstairs for evening gatherings. The entire facility will be fenced and landscaped to ensure privacy during the retreats. “For 28 years BRINT Construction has been blessed by the freedoms and opportunities of this great nation that would not exist were it not for the selfless, heroic actions of the men and women in our armed forces,” said Brian Byrom. He said the family came up with the idea to build a beach house where our veterans could relax and unwind.

“As a family, we discussed how we could accomplish this project and which foundation would be our best partner.” They found LSF a good fit and thus the partnership was born.

How can residents and friends help?

First, we can all pray that each goal is met in a timely manner and that construction is on target and not hindered by weather. And secondly, we can give. There are several levels of sponsorship, but all gifts are helpful. After the facility is built, it still must be maintained and operated. There is also the availability of in kind donations of good and services, as well as naming opportunities.

Jung is very quick to point out that it won’t be all fun and games. Professional, trained counselors will be on duty to work with each guest, offer sound counsel, provide suggestions, referrals, and any help needed by our veterans. “The beach, of course, offers a wonderful atmosphere, but we plan to accomplish much in the lives of our men and women who need us,” said Jung. “We are excited to build this retreat facility on beautiful Crystal Beach and are prayerful the entire community will get involved.”

If you would like to participate in any way, please reach out to the Byroms at BRINT Construction at (409) 767 – 4464 or visit the Web site at
www.lonesurvivorfoundation.org/crystalbeach.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or at [email protected].

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