There’s a quote often attributed to Ernest Hemingway.
Every man has two deaths, when he is buried in the ground and the last time someone says his name.
Kelly Kowall’s son personifies that saying.
In 2009, Specialist Corey J. Kowall was killed in action while serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.
“He wanted to be Army Airborne — Ranger. Jump out of planes,” said Kowall. “His plan was to come back from Afghanistan and go to Ranger school. He just didn’t get that opportunity.”
However, if Hemingway’s saying is true, Corey is still very much alive.
His mom, Kowall, still says his name almost daily. For the past 12 years, she’s worked tirelessly to cement his name into a legacy of helping other veterans.
“They truly are my hero and who I want to help because of my son,” Kowall said.
WFTS My Warrior’s Place is that legacy. The nonprofit in Ruskin provides veterans a place to rest, relax, and process the things that keep them up at night.
They can stay overnight in the rescue’s cozy cottages. They can fish and kayak the Little Manatee River, which abuts the property. Veterans can stay for a few minutes or a few weeks.