An Intimate Dinner with Estes Park WWII Veterans

An Intimate Dinner with Estes Park’s World War II Veterans

Please join Flinch Forward and American Legion Post 119 at An Intimate Dinner with Estes Park's WWII Veterans. This will be an unforgettable, once in a lifetime evening where we will be honoring and giving tribute to our Greatest Generations Heroes

The date of this honorary dinner is December 7th, 2018, the 77th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, at Mama Roses Restaurant from 6 to 8 pm.

Unfortunately, less than 3% of the heroes that served in WWII are still with us today, and it's expected that we will lose another 85% of them in the next five to seven years. So this truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be in the same room with them for an evening of honor and fellowship.

Tickets are limited and cost $50.00 each Each ticket includes your place at the table and plated dinner with one of our 12 remaining WWII Veterans who will all be in attendance. Your ticket helps to pay for the Veterans' dinner as well as each one of their chaperones.

Adam Shake, Ken Zornes, and Dick Life will be your Masters of Ceremonies and will offer a brief introduction of each of the 12 WWII Veterans in attendance as well as their bios.

WWII Veterans in attendance include:

Les Foiles - US Navy

Harry Livingston - US Navy

Mary Livingston - US Army

Don Corey - US Navy

Rey Olson - US Navy

Nita Raines - US Navy

Bob Brunson - US Navy

Jim White - US Navy

Don Gallup - Army Air Corps

Harvey Beishman - US Navy

Stan Jones - US Army and

Robert Jacker - US Army

Seating is limited so please purchase your tickets early and reserve your place at the table.

If you or your organization are interested in sponsoring this event or you have any questions, please contact Adam Shake at ashake@flinchforward.org. All proceeds help pay for the event as well as supporting programing and services for Veterans and First Responders through Flinch Forward and American Legion Post 119. For more information on these organizations, please visit www.flinchforward.org and www.esteslegion.org

Thank you for joining us for this special event!

Estes Park Community 9/11 Tribute Planned.

The Estes Park American Legion Post 119 and Flinch Forward would like to invite you to join them on Tuesday 9/11/18 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at the Estes Park American Legion in remembrance of the 2,983 men, women and children who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. We will also be honoring our local veteran and active duty military, firefighters and police officers. An honor guard will be present and there will be a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims.

American Legion Commander Loren Shriver, Estes Valley Fire Protection District Training Officer Paul Capo, Estes Park Police Department Captain Corey Pass and Flinch Forward Board Member and US Navy Reserve Commander Kendra Ryan will be speaking on behalf of their organizations.

The events of 9/11 affected each and every one of us profoundly and in different ways. It’s been 17 years since that tragic day, but we will always live in a “post 9/11” world. 9/11 continues to impact the way we live our day to day lives. Everything from the way we travel to the way we conduct security and our military operations have been forever changed.

Please join us for this special event, and let us never forget.

Article in the Estes Park Colorado Wellness Magazine

Flinch Forward is a new Estes-based organization for military veterans and first responders who are ready, willing and able to serve each other and their communities in times of need.  Members of the Flinch Forward Executive Board are either veterans, currently serving military members or first responders.  Several have extensive experience working with those who have experienced physical and unseen injuries, as well as post-traumatic stress.  These injuries often result from their commitment to “flinch forward” towards danger in service to their country and communities.  Flinch Forward was born from the belief that men and women of purpose must give back, both to heal after injury, and to satisfy the warrior’s innate requirement for service.

The organization was started by local residents who realized that when their tours of duty ended, their missions didn't. Jeff Johansson, a Vietnam Veteran, believes that “Every warrior has a next mission. We know that the transition to civilian life is a journey. And for every warrior, family member, and caregiver, that journey looks different.”  Johansson continued “We are here for their first step, and each step that follows. Because we believe that every warrior should have a positive future to look forward to. There's always another goal to achieve, another mission to discover and another way to Flinch Forward. We are their partner in that mission.”

Flinch Forward members agree that serving others is an integral part of wellness.  Several Board members have been working with veterans and wounded servicemembers for many years.  They have seen how those who successfully develop rich lives of wellbeing and purpose are those who accept the consequences of their experiences and choose to look forward and outward, not repressing their experiences but learning the important lessons therein and accepting the lifelong continued mission of serving others where and how they can.  The Board sees the need around us and believes it’s time for an Estes-based response to that need.

Although brand new, Flinch Forward is planning a full spectrum of activities and services for and by its members, from challenging, healing expeditions ascending peaks in the mountains, to seminars and exercises which explain and encourage a warrior approach to obstacles and service, to community-service projects that provide an opportunity for members to live looking “forward and outward.” 

Adam Shake, former Army Special Forces, explains: “We are not a “vacation model” nonprofit.  We are dedicated to providing an ongoing mission to warriors, a way of life that reflects our core beliefs in service, camaraderie and unrelenting personal growth.”  

The Flinch Forward team looks forward to offering services that include transitioning into a civilian workforce, post traumatic success development, paths to leadership and mission-forward opportunities like working with area nonprofits, search and rescue training and team building.

For more information on Flinch Forward, or to donate/volunteer, go to https://www.flinchforward.org/join-or-support/ or contact Adam Shake at ashake@flinchforward.org.

Join Flinch Forward for a Community Pig Roast at Elkins Distillery on Saturday June 30th!

Flinch Forward, an organization for Veterans and First Responders would like to invite the Estes Park community to join them for a Community Pig Roast at Elkins Distillery on Saturday, June 30th. The festivities start at 2:00 and go on until the last plate of pork barbeque has been served!

Military Veterans or First Responders who sign up for a $22.00 membership or Supporters who sign up for a $25.00 Support Battalion membership will get a plate of roasted pork, two slider buns, choice of barbecue sauce, and a side, absolutely free! Plates are normally $8.00 each. You’ll also be able to sign up to win a free Flinch Forward T-shirt.

Local Group Flinches Forward with new Veteran and First Responder Nonprofit

Flinch Forward is an organization for Military Veterans and First Responders who are ready, willing and able to flinch forward in times of need. Board Member David LaSalle says that Flinch Forward was born from the belief that men and women of purpose, must give back. “We have no choice. We were forged in the warrior values of purpose and mission and that purpose and mission is who we are, not what we do.”

The organization was started by local residents Adam Shake, David LaSalle and Jeff Johansson who realized that when their tours of duty ended, their missions didn’t. Johansson says “Every warrior has a next mission. We know that the transition to civilian life is a journey. And for every warrior, family member, and caregiver, that journey looks different,” Johansson continued “We are here for their first step, and each step that follows. Because we believe that every warrior should have a positive future to look forward to. There’s always another goal to achieve, another mission to discover and another way to Flinch Forward. We are their partner in that mission.”

Speaking about Flinch Forward’s organizational model, Adam Shake said “We are not a vacation model nonprofit.  We are dedicated to providing an ongoing mission to warriors, a way of life that reflects our core beliefs in service, camaraderie and unrelenting personal growth.” Shake continued “This is why Flinch Forward is unique - members give back to their communities while forging a lifelong support network.  Supporters of Flinch Forward support those who support them.”

Before even getting its 501c3 designation, the organization has already garnered interest from other Veteran and First Responder nonprofits from Colorado Springs to Cheyenne and looks forward to offering services to include transitioning into a civilian workforce, post traumatic success development, paths to leadership and mission forward opportunities like working with area nonprofits, search and rescue training and team building opportunities.

Flinch Forward’s Founding Board of Directors include:

• Jeff Johannson, a Vietnam Veteran with an M.A. in Behavioral Science that uses a Warrior Model to assist veterans in moving them from Post Traumatic Stress into Post Traumatic Growth.
• David LaSalle, a retired USAF LtCol and owner of Rocky Mountain Health Club.
• Terry Rizzuti, a Vietnam Veteran, author of seven books and previous Commander of Estes Park American Legion Post 119.
• Kendra Ryan, a Kendra Ryan, a current US Navy Reserve Commander and owner of Estes Park Yoga.
• Adam Shake, a US Army Combat Veteran and Vice President of the Estes Park EDC.
• Ken Zornes, a US Army Veteran and current Town of Estes Park Town Board Trustee.

Flinch Forward is currently meeting with people who would also like to be on its Founding Board of Directors. If you are interested, would like to learn more or become a member or supporter, please visit www.FlinchForward.org.

The organization is looking forward to a public meet-and-greet with its board of directors in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

Welcome to the Flinch Forward website

Our website went live on May 21st and this is where you'll find all of our updates and news. Our first order of business is to finish recruiting our Founding Board. More news to come!