While folks across the country get ready for the first solar eclipse to cross the United States in 99 years, a Lubbock group of veterans is packing their bags and heading to Nebraska.
Their final destination is Grand Island Nebraska, where they’ll be able to see a total eclipse.
Vet Star, a local organization that provides resources and support for veterans, is planning the trip and said it’s a way to remind veterans that the darkness eventually ends.
“I want them to have the common shared experience to realize that even though you might feel like you’re alone in the dark, you’re not alone,” said director of Vet Star, Colonel Dave Lewis.
Colonel Lewis said the eclipse will be a symbolic moment for many reasons when comparing the eclipse to soldiers coming back home after deployment.
“Suddenly the Earth turns dark in the middle of the day very unexpectedly,” said Lewis. “We use that as a metaphor of what our veterans go through when they come home.”
They hope by witnessing this once in a lifetime event, veterans will understand the light will also return in their lives just as it does during a solar eclipse.
“They find themselves in darkness and lost. This will be an interesting metaphor to move forward and show them even though this is metaphor for being in the darkness we’re going to show you that we have ways to get you back into the light,” Lewis said.
Fifteen veterans and Vet Star staff will make the 30 hour round trip drive to Nebraska from Lubbock. During the drive, veterans will talk through what they’ve experienced together and how it’s impacted them.
“There’s not a single veteran out there who wouldn’t step up to help out another veteran but when it comes to asking for help on your own, people can be pretty reluctant,” said Lewis.
The eclipse is Monday afternoon. KLBK’s Paige Pauroso will be traveling with the group and show you more about what their experience looks like on our Monday broadcast.
