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Veterans are one of the main reasons for the freedom that the United States has provided to its citizens. Through decades many different veterans have lost their lives through serving the nation.

Every battle reaching back to the Revolutionary War involved men who fought for their country. They ensured that future generations were given the rights to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, the freedom of assembly and the freedom to petition.

Veterans are represented through November 11th (Veterans Day) and May 27th (Memorial Day); both of these memorialized days represent fallen soldiers. Today the school celebrated area servicemen and women with a program in the main gymnasium. The Belt community has many veterans that they represent every year during the Veteran’s Day Concert. One marine sniper veteran is Luke Urick.

Luke Urick is the son of Joseph Urick and Shellie Ponte. Urick grew up in the Belt community and graduated from Belt School in 2001. After graduating he enlisted in the marine corps. He and his wife Jill Pruitt started their family while he was still in the service.

After enlisting in the Marine Corp Urick went to boot camp and then was later stationed in Camp Pendleton, California. He took his wife and son with him to California and then he was later deployed to Iran. His first deployment took place in Iran and after he came back he enrolled in Sniper School. This resulted in Urick earning his title as a Marine Sniper.

During his second deployment in Fallujah Urick was injured by an IED bomb; he was later presented with a purple heart. Urick continued to serve in the Marine Corps for a couple of years after his second deployment. Urick at this time also had his second child, a baby girl, Addison, and later his third child, Vannie.

Urick was discharged from the military after nine years of service and moved back to Belt with his family. His kids began to attend school in Belt and now Hayden is a graduate of Belt High. Addison will graduate in May and Vannie is a freshman.

Even though Urick was out of the military he still felt he was bound to it because he couldn’t get away from PTSD. After watching many of his friends lose their battle to depression and PTSD Urick knew something had to be done.

The Montana Vet Program was then established in 2016. It’s an organization that focuses on helping veterans through their PTSD and depression by taking them into the Montana backcountry and providing therapeutic treatments.

The MVP has grown immensely since then and now has a full established team. They put on a gun raffle every year, an Obstacle Race, and many more fundraisers to support this worthwhile cause. They plan to keep the program going and will keep doing their trips. More information is provided on their Facebook or Instagram pages.

To show appreciation and thanks to local veterans the Valley Voice will be featuring Hometown Heroes in upcoming issues.