Fencing Group for Veterans

By Richard Battista

Veterans returning from service often struggle to readjust to the

life of a civilian. However, finding a way to bond with fellow

veterans has been proven to be a successful technique of

reacquainting with everyday life; veterans going through the same

struggle can work together to ease into normality.

Knowing this, Liz Cross set out to create a free program that

would allow veterans to meet and bond, while receiving a fair

bit of exercise to help work through the frustrations of

previous experiences.

According to an article recently completed by ABC News, when

designing this program, only one sport came to mind that could meet all of her requirements.

Fencing, which relies heavily on a combination physical activity and

mental agility, would be the perfect solution for struggling

veterans and active duty members.

To her, the sport’s emphasis on strategy, focus, determination and a strong honor code just

naturally meshed well with the existing traits of those who

serve; in essence, to Cross, the sport was a sort of natural

extension on a veteran’s abilities.

The group she formed, often referred to as Veterans On Guard or The Fencers Club, began last

fall and now holds twenty veterans and active duty

members. Participants are of all ages and come from a variety of

wars and branches of the military.

They meet twice a week to study the epee style of fencing. In a typical session, participants

engage in conditioning, the study of footwork and

techniques, as well as lunges, jumps and arm work.

Cross’s goal with the group was to engage disabled and able-bodied service members to integrate into the broader

community, through a variety of experiences, both involving in the actual study of fencing, as well as through the sharing of

stories and knowledge from their time in the service.

Most participating veterans, such as Alberto Cruz, first heard of the program through the VA of New

York Harbor’s Healthcare System. Cruz, a United States Air Force

veteran, has found the club to be very beneficial; focusing on

fencing allows for a return to something familiar—discipline.

Through the community of veterans, he has also learned so many new things, from vets that

served in a variety of different battlefields and wars; it has been a very positive means of getting

out frustration and helping others at the same time.