Supporting veterans on a more personal level

Memorial Day has come and gone, but for Jon Jackson honoring veterans means helping them become self sufficient after the ravages of war have taken their toll on the men and women who endured the relentless danger of battle in some of the most treacherous areas in the Middle East.

Jackson became an Army ranger after the 9/11 attacks on our country, a move he considered his patriotic duty for 10-plus years — and for at least 40 months in the world’s hot spots. He knows from personal experience how post traumatic stress can warp a person’s outlook and leave open wounds other people may never see.

After leaving the service and experiencing the frustration of a bureaucracy that made getting help a navigation labyrinth, Jackson founded S.T.A.G. Vets Inc., the first of the acronym translated “Strive To Achieve Greatness,” to give veterans an outlet that does not involve sitting in an office waiting to see a physician.

His sponsoring organization purchased a 25-acre parcel of farm land off of Horace Veal Road, on the outskirts of Milledgeville, at the beginning of 2016 and named it Comfort Farms. Although the name seems fitting for a respite from the stress of the daily grind, the farm is named for another Army Ranger and Jackson’s close friend, Capt. Kyle Comfort, who was killed on a mission in May 2010.

With less than two years in operation, Comfort Farms has made great strides in helping veterans, making plots available for those who want to learn farming techniques, and connecting veterans with the therapeutic support they need to adapt to a different way of life.

The farm advocates sustainable agriculture and the efficient use of the land, an example of which is the addition of hydroponics within the last year, a system that can produce mature vegetables in a matter of weeks using water, fertilizer and the sun in an area about the size of a semi-truck.

Comfort Farms is open to the public and encourages visitors to take advantage of the working farm environment where the mission is supporting veterans in their day-to-day recovery from the trauma of war. Learn more about it at stagvetsinc.org.

RECEPTION FOR GOODWILL’S FEATURED ARTIST

On May 25, the Goodwill store on Forsyth Road hosted a reception for contemporary painter Cherry Brewer, whose works will be exhibited in the store through June 20. Brewer’s paintings hang in Mercer University’s Medical School and in other public areas, and are popular with collectors for the exuberant splashes of color with which she interprets her day-to-day life.

“Fly Fishing” elicited some humorous comments from patrons who identified with the tangle of lines and images reminiscent of this action-filled sport fishing. “Strawberry Cheesecake” is a frothy confection of pastels that evokes the taste and texture of yummy cheesecake.

“Waiting on a Friend” is a departure from the usual abstract paintings recognized as Brewer’s work. The tulips in an unusual vase, according to the artist, are two of her favorite things, which needed the more impressionistic genre of the painting.

A crowd pleaser was “Hydrangea,” in myriad shades of blue, that did not need the mop heads of the real thing for viewers to know this is a painting of one of spring’s most luscious flowers.

This is Goodwill’s third art show and reception. The reception is is catered by students in Goodwill’s culinary arts school — and attendance has increased since the inauguration of gallery shows at the Forsyth Road store.

Giving credit where credit is due

Ethiel Garlington, director of Historic Macon Foundation, called to my attention a few mistakes in last week’s column.

Bike Walk Macon, under the leadership of executive director Rachel Hollar, was the sponsoring organization for the rained-out Open Streets event the previous weekend, although Historic Macon was a partner for the event.

Garlington also pointed out that the re-purposing of A.L. Miller Senior High School for a senior living center began before the campus and buildings were added to the Fading Five list of endangered historic structures.

Astute readers keep the column relevant and accurate!

This story was originally published June 2, 2017 at 6:45 AM with the headline "Supporting veterans on a more personal level."