For his dedication to veterans, Ismael “Izzy” Quintana received a plaque from Gary Parahus, the owner of Gary’s Gutter Services, outside City Line restaurant.
HERO OF THE MONTH ISMAEL QUINTANA
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ivertown Magazine is proud to announce that Ismael “Izzy” Quintana, the Veteran Outreach Coordinator for the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program, is November’s 2019 “Hero of the Month.” This “Vet to Vet” approach for veterans is named in honor of an Iraqi war hero from Mount Sinai, New York, PFC Joseph P. Dwyer. Every day in America, 20 to 22 veterans succumb to suicide in our nation. The Vet to Vet program utilizes a “battle buddy” system in which one-on-one mentoring by veterans who are trained in a military behavioral health course provide counseling, information, referral and moral support to veterans in need. Another mission is providing support to veterans to prevent suicide, incarceration and harm to self/or others. The program is open to all veterans and their families. Ismael is a Gulf War and Bosnia veteran with 24 years in the Army. He retired as a Major and feels an obligation to give back to our country and those veterans who gave their last full measure of devotion so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have. The Rockland County program is administered and operated by BRIDGES and is made available to veterans through the Rockland County Veterans Service Agency. Vet to Vet offers social events as well as alternative therapies to medication like yoga, acupuncture and meditation. They partner with Veteran Service Dog programs at the Hi-Tor Animal Care Center and Behavior Plus, a private dog training service. They even have a program where vets work with horses.
116 / Rivertown Magazine November 2019
BRIDGES also advocates for veterans facing incarceration and finds housing for homeless vets. To find out more about joining the program and becoming a mentor, or if you would like to donate funds to help the more than 9,000 veterans who live in Rockland County, call Vet to Vet Administrator Sharon Bailey, LCSW, Major Retired who can be reached at 845-521-9440. You can reach Izzy at 845-587-6497. If you need transportation for medical appointments at the VA (Montrose or Castle Point), call BRIDGES to schedule a week in advance 845-624-1366 extension 102. R
You’re Invited!
MAY 18, 2019, 2-6PM | MAY 19, 2019, 12-4PM
FREE YOGA FOR VETERANS Courtesy of Vet to Vet WHEN: Every Thursday through December 1:30PM–2:30PM WHERE: Birchwood Center Yoga & Massage 85 South Broadway, Nyack, NY