impossible. In a short span, he went on to lose his job, his marriage, his home, and his truck. impossible. In a short span, he went on to lose his job, his marriage, his home, and his truck. For a while, he lived in a vehicle behind a gas station and had to decide whether or not to sleep in a large garbage container on the nights it was too cold to be in the car. Many studies show the effects trauma can have on the brain. Matt doesn’t need to read any such articles because the evidence is clear for his personal situation. Thankfully, he met the right person at the right time who would play a significant role in his stability and future successes. Jade Pinto is a kind, caring, and accomplished tattoo artist. Matt regularly coped with his mental health issues by expressing his pain and suffering through tattoos. Over time, Jade went from his “tattoo therapist” to his friend, his confidant, and the love of his life. As their relationship progressed, it provided Matt with the stability and support he needed to reclaim his life and purpose. In late 2021, Matt and Jade founded the Bravo Foxtrot United Veterans, Inc. nonprofit organization. As mentioned at the outset of this article, serving others has rewards and blessings. Matt wanted to use his personal struggle as fuel to help other veterans readjust to civilian life. Matt acknowledges: “The VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) has a wide variety of programs and benefits that can help; however, it can be easy for someone not to fully understand what help is available to them or how to obtain it. Even more, sometimes a serviceman or woman may be dealing with such high-level effects of trauma from their military career that they may have difficulty trusting the help that is available.” The documentary shows his and Jade's success in providing wound care, food, supplies, and a helping hand to those who may reject the hand of another. This help has also included assisting veterans in applying for additional benefits they may be entitled to but are unclear how to apply for. The Law firm of
Fusco, Brandenstein, and Rada has given their time to Matt and Jade’s mission to fight injustices for those who could have easily had their voices silenced. Hazy Sun and Bravo Foxtrot received such positive responses from the documentary “Long Island’s Forgotten Heroes” that they have just announced plans to film a second documentary, which will begin filming this spring. These endeavors continue to fuel Matt and Jade’s passionate efforts to serve those who have served. Please visit his website at www.bravofoxtrot.org to watch the first documentary or support his life-saving mission.
Mark "Wex" Wetzler is a seasoned consultant specializing in revenue generation and forging strategic partnerships for non-profits. His creative flair is evident in roles ranging from legal collections to marketing consultancy. He humorously self-identifies as an original patent holder of the awkward silence. Learn more at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wex-wetzler-31a6b221a.
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