Til Valhalla Project
The Story Behind the Til Valhalla Project Korey Shaffer, a Rhode Island native, joined the Marines in 2011, serving in Afghanistan from 2012-2013. While serving, Korey suffered injuries and was forced to medically retire. Like many veterans, Korey struggled to adjust back to civilian life. His unit had an alarming amount of suicides, which made the battle to keep moving forward even harder. On May 10, 2016, one of Korey's closest friends from the Marines took his own life - this was a turning point. Korey did not take the loss well, and while grieving and dealing with his demons, he turned to alcohol. The weight of watching the most courageous people in his life fall to their demons was unbearable.
Determined to make it through another night fueled by alcohol and depression, Korey made a plaque to honor his fallen friend. He came to realize that the act of making this memorial plaque served as a coping mechanism and a therapeutic way to deal with the dark thoughts he was struggling with. The next day, he gifted the plaque to his deceased friend's mom. That single plaque has grown into a thriving business with a purpose, Til Valhalla Project.
"I went from being "the free plaque guy" to the CEO of a company that sells products to help fund mental health support for Veterans. Today, Til Valhalla Project is a brand that offers a range of items such as memorial bands, hats, shirts, tumblers, and steel art. Proceeds from the sales go towards creating plaques for the families of Fallen Heroes, and 20% of the net proceeds are donated towards reducing Veteran suicide" -Korey
"TIL VAHALLA " Originating from Norse mythology, Til Valhalla is abbreviated from 'until Valhalla.' It is said among service members to mean "until we meet again in Valhalla. No matter who or what you believe in – Until Valhalla is a sign of utmost respect and tells our Fallen that we will see them again one day."