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Former Aberdeen man hopes to build veterans ranch in Colorado

Aberdeen American News - 7/23/2017

July 23--A former Aberdeen man is hoping to raise money and build a facility in Colorado to help veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Chris Reder, who lives in Gilpin County in Colorado, has created the DTOM 22/0 Foundation and is raising funds. DTOM is a military acronym that means don't tread on me. His goal is to raise funds to build a veterans ranch.

The ranch would be a place for veterans who need a place to re-acclimate and transition back into civilian life.

"The goal is to try and make it an environment of camaraderie that we miss in the military," Reder said.

Reder is a U.S. Navy veteran who's military career was cut short when he was injured in a traffic crash. When that happened, he said, he struggled in his transition back into civilian life.

In 2016, he participated in Operation Nine Lines: New Trails, a five-day hike in Colorado aimed at raising awareness and improving the lives of veterans. Reder said the participants in the hike raised a combined $160,000, which is being used to build a handicapped-accessible house for a veteran.

It was also while on that hike that Reder got a job offer with a Colorado company.

"I found a place up in the mountains and fell in love with the country and the people," he said.

Reder signed up for the Operation Nine Lines hike specifically to increase awareness about veteran suicide, which at that time was happening at a rate of 22 per day.

According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, statistics show the suicide rate is now about 20 per day, said Shirley Redmond, public affairs officer for the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System. Redmond said of those suicides, 70 percent -- or 14 -- are not receiving VA services.

After he completed the hike, Reder said he wanted to do more to help reduce instances of veteran suicide, so he began thinking about the idea of a ranch.

The veterans ranch will have a variety of programs available like re-acclimation classes, volunteer opportunities, container farming and therapy animals, he said. He also plans to have transportation available so veterans can make their medical appointments.

Reder said construction of the veterans ranch depends on when funds are raised for the facility. He said he talked to the Gilpin County Commission in May to let the board know about the project.

Gilpin County Commissioner Linda Isenhart said in an email that the commission met with Reder and wishes him the best in finding partners to help fund the project. She said commissioners encouraged him to return when his plan is further along.

Between land and construction, Reder said, it could take about $500,000 to build the ranch. But that cost could be reduced if he could find someone willing to donate about 40 acres of land. He'd like to build the facility so it's big enough to accommodate 25 to 30 veterans at any given time.

Follow @ElisaSand_aan on Twitter.

DTOM 22/0 Foundation

--For more information on the DTOM 22/0 Foundation and fundraising efforts for the veterans ranch, visit dtom220.org.

--DTOM is a military acronym that stands for don't tread on me.

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(c)2017 the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.)

Visit the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.) at www.aberdeennews.com

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