Group changes focus to help veterans through excursions

For more than a year, the nonprofit organization American Patriots of Shadow Mountain Lake has been working to acquire the 4,000 sq. ft. property east of the Horizon City limits that encompasses the body of water in its name.

As ABC-7 reported in Feb. 2015, the group hopes to transform the lake into a resort for vets and their families. ABC-7 reached out to the group for an update on the project and learned it has stalled.

“We’re still looking for that community partner to make that our reality as a national veterans retreat,” Tony Lang, president of American Patriots, said.

Lang told ABC-7 the group wants to do something to help veterans while it finds a financial backer to help with the purchase of the land. The nonprofit is moving into a building on Diana in Northeast El Paso and is focusing on its new endeavor called “Project Evolution.”

“What (Project Evolution) entails is taking 10 veterans every other month for a 12-month calendar on 3-5 day therapy, recreational and historical trips across the state of Texas,” Lang said.

American Patriots is working on creating a one-stop shop for vets from all wars and their families, where they can attend seminars and sessions with clinical professionals to help vets transition back into civilian life.

The goal is to be functioning by the end of August. Lang said his personal life experience motivates him to help veterans.

“I did 30 years in the Army and had numerous deployments,” Lang said. “I’ve seen a lot of things where the transition process, after-support by the (Department of Veterans Affairs, we can help them do better and provide more resources on a personal level.”

Each excursion would cost less than $6,000 and would be paid for by Project Evolution. The organization is in the process of applying for grants to fund the trips.

As for the restoration of Shadow Mountain Lake, American Patriots is holding its annual golf tournament at Painted Dunes Golf Course on Aug. 13.

The funds go toward buying the property. Click here for more information.