May 24, 2020
By Guns & Ammo Staff
As Memorial Day approaches, Leupold & Stevens, Inc., longtime partner to the United States military and dedicated supporter of veterans across the nation, highlights its partnership with The Mighty Endeavor by remembering the award-winning film, “Shepherds of Helmand.”
In 2008, an Oregon National Guard team volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan to train the Afghan National Army. As their mission changed, they found themselves in constant combat in the deadly Helmand Province and after months of savage fighting, returned home as one of the most decorated units in Oregon National Guard history. Narrated by Donald Trump, Jr., the award-winning “Shepherds of Helmand” provides a personal look into the experiences of 17 men during their historic tour.
“The National Guard members featured in ‘Shepherds of Helmand’ are not only heroes who exemplify the very idea of service before self, they’re our neighbors here in the Pacific Northwest,” said Bruce Pettet, President and Chief Executive Officer of Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “We’re incredibly proud to support them, our nation’s veterans, and the U.S. servicemen and women around the world. The Mighty Endeavor’s mission is critical to preserving our country’s military heritage and ensuring that these stories of sacrifice and heroism are shared with the next generation.”
The Mighty Endeavor program was launched with the purpose of gathering veterans’ oral histories, recordings, images, and videos with the intent of using their stories to educate our youth and help reconnect veterans with the community they served. It’s part of Veterans’ Legacies, a non-profit that works with volunteers and partnering organizations to connect veterans and students, to preserve their stories, honor their service, and educate our youth.
“On behalf of everyone that worked on the film and the servicemen who experienced the fighting firsthand, I want to thank Leupold & Stevens for their support in sponsoring its re-release,” said “Shepherds of Helmand” director Gary Mortensen. “It’s a story that needs to be told and a message that needs to be shared.”
The movie “Shepherds of Helmand” is available online now at Leupold.com and ShepherdsofHelmand.org .
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