Warrior Beach Retreat to give eight combat-wounded veterans a hero's welcome this week

Nathan Cobb, Panama City News Herald
·2 min read

PANAMA CITY BEACH − Linda Cope says she believes it is important for veterans to get a hero's welcome.

As the founder of Warrior Beach Retreat, a local nonprofit organization that is not affiliated with the Wounded Warrior Project, Cope said her group is gearing up to host a retreat this week for eight combat-wounded veterans and their spouses or caregivers.

The event, which will feature a parade and ceremony, is scheduled to occur in the Panama City Beach area Tuesday through Feb. 26.

Warrior Beach Retreat will host a vacation this week in the Panama City Beach area for eight combat wounded veterans and their spouses or caregivers.
Warrior Beach Retreat will host a vacation this week in the Panama City Beach area for eight combat wounded veterans and their spouses or caregivers.

"The biggest thing is that (these veterans) realize with the love of the community, the parade and the ceremony that their sacrifice was not in vain and they were not forgotten," Cope said. "So many of them ... feel alone and isolated."

Along with a parade Thursday throughout the Panama City Beach area in honor of the veterans, the retreat also will feature guest speaker Allen West, former U.S. representative and retired lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Army.

West is slated to speak after the parade at a ceremony held at the First Baptist Church of Panama City, 640 Grace Ave.

"We are so grateful to have him come," Cope said. "We really want people to line the parade route ... because he will be in the parade also. I want him to see how patriotic Bay County really is. ... We just want the community to know (they are welcome) to come hear him (speak). It is free and open to the public at 7 p.m."

Warrior Beach Retreat was started by Cope more than a dozen years ago after her son, retired U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Cope, lost both his legs above the knee from an improvised explosive device in Iraq.

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For more information on the retreat, and to view the parade route, visit www.warriorbeachretreat.org.

"We're grateful for the support of the community, and for American patriots," Cope said.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Warrior Beach Retreat hosting wounded veterans in Panama City Beach