Voices of Valor: Insights from Our Veterans

Dear Boots to Health,

Thank you for the services and support you have provided over the past few months! The

nutrition and fitness plan you customized for me has been invaluable in improving my quality of

life. When I was deployed to Iraq in 2008-09 as a medic with the Army’s 4th Infantry Division,

the demands of combat took a toll on my mental and physical health. After my honorable

discharge from the Army in 2010, I worked diligently on a healthcare routine that would address

my ailments. I’ve had two knee surgeries and a series of physical therapy sessions for my

shoulder. However, finding a daily routine to improve my health overall was difficult to come by,

especially as I traveled the country and studied towards my bachelor’s degree. As the years

passed, I spent less time focusing on diet and exercise, and the pain from my joint injuries

worsened. That continued until I was referred to Boots to Health by a fellow veteran.

I moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 2023 after being accepted into law school.

Receiving services from the local Veterans Center helped connect me to a community of veterans

that I could rely on for support. I was talking to a fellow Army veteran and mentioned I was

looking for help with a nutrition plan and exercise routine that would work with my injuries.

That’s when I was told about Boots to Health, and I reached out right away. I got connected with

Logan and informed him of what I needed. Logan developed a custom plan that accommodated

my injuries and dietary restrictions. It’s a struggle to find healthy, nutrient-dense foods at the

grocery store that give me sustained energy without irritating my stomach. The nutrition plan

Boots to Health developed gave me guidance for healthy meal options throughout the day. I’ve

been working the plan for over three months, and I’ve never felt better. I have very few stomach

aches, if any, and I have energy throughout the day to focus on my studies and build my career.

The exercise routine has been successful as well. When we got started, Logan would check in

with me weekly to provide advice and tailor the exercises to my needs. My cardio has improved,

my joints feel stronger, and the pain has significantly lessened.

I can’t express enough how thankful I am for everything Boots to Health has done for me.

It’s difficult to find services, at little to no cost, that can be customized to meet my needs.

Working with fellow veterans is important because they know and understand the experiences

that have brought me here. I’m incredibly grateful to be connected with a program run by

veterans, for veterans. The improvements I’ve made in my health through Boots to Health have

improved my quality of life and allowed me to focus on a brighter future. I hope other veterans

in the community can connect with you as I have.

Thank you again for everything you’ve done for me. I feel more at ease and less stressed

with my physical health than I have before, which goes a long way towards being more

successful in the other aspects of my life. Keep doing what you’re doing, more of us will benefit

from your support!

Sincerely,

Brent Finkbeiner

Combat Medic, U.S. Army, 2006-2010

J.D. Candidate, Widener Commonwealth Law School, Class of 2026