Walk With Frank
Special 3-day Online Film Event
Screening of “Walk With Frank | Filmmaker Q&A | Short Films
All films are available from February 17th – February 20th. Watch at your own pace!
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Directors: Ryan Mayers, Matt Mayers
Director of Photography: Richard Chisolm
Composer: Austin Caughlin
Consulting Producer: Justin Schein
United States, 01:18:29 runtime
Synopsis:
A former Vietnam infantry soldier, Frank Romeo, decides to celebrate his 70th birthday by walking across New York State to help other survivors of PTSD, while confronting his own dark past.
Who is Frank?
A veteran of the Vietnam war who even though physically wounded during combat, Frank Romeo’s real pain didn’t begin until he came back to a society that had turned its back on him. It would take years for Frank to come to terms with his past, and understand how to move forward with PTSD.
Frank’s story mirrors the evolution of PTSD in our nation’s history as he, like many others, struggled for so long to understand the changes that his mind and body were going through. As the study of PTSD progressed, so did Frank’s understanding of his illness and how to live with it.
Much ensued in his journey of recovery and culminated in his walk across New York State that is the focus of the documentary Walk with Frank.
“To celebrate his 70th birthday, Frank decided to walk across New York State in order to raise attention for his programs and mental health awareness. Braving the weather and his past injuries, Frank walked in solidarity for all people suffering from mental illness who are unable to take that first step.”
Viewers will learn more about Frank in the film and in the interview with the film producers will realize the power of Frank’s story to raise awareness about the plight of mental illness in general.
Short Films
Thoughts from Veterans on Walking
5 minutes 53 seconds
Filmmaker: Krysia Carter-Giez
The act of walking is a fundamental part of the Huts For Vets program. Walking is something most of us take for granted, but walking has important and proven therapeutic benefits that link back to our common human origins. The Danish philosopher Soren Kirkegaard said: “Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts and know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.” Vietnam War Veteran Doug Peacock found his healing in walking the wild lands of the American West. “Walk on,” he wrote. “Let the feet inform the soul.”
Women Veterans Find Friendship and Healing in the Mountains
9 minutes 57 seconds
Filmmaker: Krysia Carter-Giez
Women have formally been a part of the U.S. Armed Forces since the inception of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901, and have informally served since the inception of the nation’s military.
Huts For Vets provides a wilderness program specifically for women veterans, creating a safe space to come together to support the discussion of unique issues faced by women in the military and the obstacles encountered in transitioning back to civilian life. Despite women having demonstrated their mental and physical toughness to perform in the military, women’s service to the nation is often less recognized, less respected and less valued than their male counterparts.
This short film gives a glimpse into some thoughts shared by a group of women veterans who spent three days on a wilderness program in the summer of 2021.
The film is introduced by two Vietnam Veterans and founding board members of Huts For Vets, Lt. Col. Dick Merritt (US Marine Corps) and Dan Glidden (US Navy)
