NEWBERRY — Three United States Army veterans made their way through Newberry County this week on a journey of over 360 miles to raise awareness for veterans and South Carolina Arrows for Heroes.

The three veterans on this 14-day journey were Gregory Quarles, Ross Alewine and Jared Vernon — all retired.

“We welcome you all to Newberry, thanks for what you are doing — we heard about your story, and thank you for all your service. We have heart for veterans here, we have a lot of veterans in Newberry County, so we appreciate you raising awareness for veterans and veterans issues,” said Mayor Foster Senn during the trios stop in Memorial Park.

Quarles, who is also the executive director for the southeastern region of Arrows for Heroes, said their 14-day walk started at the Sassafras Mountain and will end in Patriots Point.

“Started out as 357.4 miles, but now we are over the 360 mark because we made a few detours through the towns and things like that — the couple of extra miles are adding up,” he said.

Quarles said there were a couple of reasons for the walk, one of those was to raise money for the S.C. Arrows for Heroes — so they can buy equipment.

“Both regular archery and adaptive archery equipment, to help the veteran community to get out and find a purpose after getting out of the military and helping through their recovery. Ross and myself are both 100 percent medically retired and through adaptive sports, we’ve been able to adapt and overcome our injuries,” Quarles said. “I had multiple spinal cord injuries, broke neck, broke back, from gunshot wound and blown up. Once I got introduced to adaptive sports, it really helped me push past those pain levels — pulled me out of that deep hole that I thought I had lost everything I had because the military was my career and being around other veterans with like-minds, similar or worse injuries, you are able to gain that motivation and inspiration.”

Doing this walk was Quarles way of paying it forward, because of the people who stood by him, his friends, family, medical and non-medical personnel.

“Help motivate the veterans in the community, show them how much support they have in South Carolina, and across the country. This isn’t just for South Carolina — although we are walking in South Carolina — it is for the entire country to show the veterans that we are behind them,” he said.

During their journey in Newberry County, the veterans stopped in Kinards, then to Newberry (where they stopped for lunch), Prosperity and Little Mountain.

“Just going through the counties, stopping in each town — hopefully to meet people like the mayors and help spread the word. Having people come out and like our page, follow us, and hopefully give donations. Everyone following us can see the support from each town,” Quarles said.

During their journey, Hurricane Dorian also impacted the state — even causing a State of Emergency to be declared.

At the urging of the Veterans Administration, the three veterans had to postpone the remainder of the journey due to the hurricane, and will pick back up in Chapin in the future.

You can follow the South Carolina Arrows for Heroes, Quarles recommends Googling the organization — which will allow you to see all their social media accounts and websites.

The veterans in front of the Vietnam War Memorial in Memorial Park during their stop in the City of Newberry. Pictured, left to right, Hugh Gray, Gregory Quarles, Jared Vernon, Ross Alewine and Mayor Foster Senn.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_DSC_0997.jpgThe veterans in front of the Vietnam War Memorial in Memorial Park during their stop in the City of Newberry. Pictured, left to right, Hugh Gray, Gregory Quarles, Jared Vernon, Ross Alewine and Mayor Foster Senn. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

Ross Alewine (left) and Gregory Quarles (right) arrive in Newberry on their journey across the state. Jared Vernon drives the van behind them.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_DSC_0975.jpgRoss Alewine (left) and Gregory Quarles (right) arrive in Newberry on their journey across the state. Jared Vernon drives the van behind them. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

The three veterans and Mayor Foster Senn hold up the flags they’ve traveled with in front of the WWI monument in Memorial Park. Pictured, left to right, Mayor Foster Senn, Ross Alewine, Gregory Quarles, Jared Vernon.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_DSC_0994.jpgThe three veterans and Mayor Foster Senn hold up the flags they’ve traveled with in front of the WWI monument in Memorial Park. Pictured, left to right, Mayor Foster Senn, Ross Alewine, Gregory Quarles, Jared Vernon. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

By Andrew Wigger

awigger@championcarolinas.com

Reach Andrew Wigger @ 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.