OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A number of Marion County veterans’ groups held a Veterans Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Summit Sept. 30, 2025, at the Marion County Veterans Resource Center, to discuss how they can address an issue that is often overlooked and doesn’t receive the attention it deserves until tragedy strikes.
This past weekend, two separate incidents, one in North Carolina and another in Michigan, saw two Global War on Terror veterans kill and wound civilians, and in one of those cases set a house of worship on fire, with both men suffering from mental health disorders related to post-traumatic stress disorder. The summit served as a think tank and a collaborative effort between the veterans’ groups.
Matt Schwanke, CEO and founder of Outdoor Valor, runs a PTSD awareness group, which convenes every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Veterans Resource Center.
“The purpose of this is to get to work,” said Todd Belknap, Veterans Helping Veterans USA president. “We have some work to do. This initiative will be to rally the veterans’ community, without the Veterans Administration or V.A. Sources. I have talked to enough veterans that believe by inviting the V.A. into this situation right now would be counterproductive. This is a clarion call. I believe if we don’t do anything, we are welcoming these tragedies to visit us in Marion County.”
An Opportunity to be Heard
The veterans’ groups are in the process of creating an organization, brand and mission statement. Belknap received a phone call from U.S. Rep Kat Cammack’s office Sept. 28, from Dave Hill, Cammack’s director of military and veterans’ affairs.
“The Congresswoman has given her full-throated endorsement to this initiative, in saying that the information that we glean from the veterans that do show up, at this summit that will take place on Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Elliot Center compliments of Empath Hospice of Marion County will be reviewed,” said Belknap. “She is in direct contact with Sec. Collins. (United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins) from the department of veterans affairs.”
The stated goal of the summit. and of the initiative moving forward, was to get a peer-led, peer-driven roundtable workshop, and to start a dialogue that will be ongoing to address issues that are brought forward.
The meet sought to provide a forum for the veterans and their spouses to share their VA experiences or wherever the veteran is receiving treatment, and if the level of the treatment is meeting their expectations. The focus of the summit meetings will be to repair the breach, said Belknap.
The meeting Tuesday saw members of the various veterans’ organization discuss what they can do proactively to address the situation locally, so something like the recent violence doesn’t occur in Marion County. Some of the issues discussed included the lack of assistance and underperformance of some government agencies; the challenges veterans face, especially the first five years after leaving the military; the importance of reestablishing the connection with veterans, so they can experience the camaraderie they once shared and don’t feel isolated; having an accountability partner; and the opportunity to be heard.
Veterans will have the opportunity to fill out a survey anonymously, so that firsthand data can be collected, consolidated and hand-delivered, right to the director of veterans’ affairs. There will be follow-up with the office concerning progress, or lack thereof.