Parachutes for Patriots: 'Let's start doing scary stuff and start living again'

For Misti Hall and her son Ethan, parachuting was more than a thrill-seeking event on Saturday in DeLand.

The two came to Skydive DeLand from California to honor David Hall, Misti's late husband and Ethan's dad, who died in 2020. Ethan, 18, planned to go skydiving with his dad when he turned 16 but didn't get the chance.

David Hall was a retired Navy SEAL who had PTSD, Misti said.

"We lost him to veteran's suicide about 2 1/2 years ago," she said. "He died right before Ethan turned 16."

The DeLand nonprofit Parachutes for Patriots wanted to provide the skydiving experience, so they included Misti and Ethan in their annual weekend event. The nonprofit brings together veterans from around the country to not only enjoy tandem skydiving but also enjoy time with other veterans, family, and friends.

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Skydiving and other expenses such as travel and lodging are paid by the nonprofit, board secretary Libby Molesky said. Over 30 veterans participated in this year's event.

Wounds can be 'visible or not'

The nonprofit invites all military veterans to participate, including those with disabilities.

"Their wounds can be visible or not. We do have an amputee here with us this year. Last year we had two paraplegics with us," she said. "We designed special pants so that the tandem masters are able to manipulate their legs so that when they land, they land safely."

Jumping from a plane can be a scary prospect. But some veterans enjoy it, Army veteran Dan Molesky, who is married to Libby, said.

Molesky, who helped veterans parachute at past events, was part of the special forces and Army Parachute Team.

"I think for the veteran it's such an adrenaline rush. I think it's unexpected. I think they have a wave of emotions come over them, and I see nothing but total joy," Dan Molesky said. "And (I) had a gentleman a couple years ago, another fellow special forces ― he jumped, and when he hit the ground he said to me, 'I finally felt like me again.'"

Dan and Libby Molesky work for Complete Parachute Solutions, a sponsor of the nonprofit.

'Feeling like you're alive again'

For Misti Hall, jumping out of a plane marked a step forward.

"I think there's a certain something that comes for me with this that, like, 'Let's start doing scary stuff and start living again' because after you lose somebody, you get stuck in this numb thing. And it's like feeling that excitement again and just feeling like you're alive again is huge ― huge," she said.

She said her focus in coming to the event was honoring veterans and raising awareness about veterans who are struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder.

"We have guys here that have lost a leg in combat who have visible injuries, but there's so many here that have injuries that we can't see," Hall said. "And they're taught their whole career not to be weak and … suck it up."

She urged people to reach out to someone for support.

"You think it's going to be okay for the families that you leave behind, but it's not, and there's a million guys that would have given anything if you would have just called," she said.

While Saturday's event brought tears for Misti Hall, it also brought smiles and laughter.

"Oh it was so good," she yelled to onlookers after she landed from her jump. As Misti and Ethan walked off the landing field smiling, she stopped to give him a hug.

Veterans and service members can dial 988 and then press 1, or Text 838255 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line any time of day or night for confidential support. The resource is available to help people in a crisis or those concerned about them. Dialing 988 connects people to the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Skydive DeLand hosts mother, son on mission to honor deceased veteran