About 150 veterans and family members enjoyed a sunny Sunday, rafting on the Animas River at Santa Rita Park for the second annual Veterans Float & Picnic.
With the river flowing about 3,900 cubic feet per second, rafters put in at Santa Rita Park and avoided the troublesome Class IV rapids just north at the Durango Whitewater Park to enjoy more family-friendly rides on the river south of the park.
“These events really do rebuild camaraderie,” said Andy Morrow, senior vice commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4031.
“When you serve you depend on each other, you take care of each other, and you lose that camaraderie when you leave, and events like this help you get it back, and that helps. I know it helped me,” said Morrow, who served from 2010-11 in Iraq’s eastern Anbar Province with the Army’s 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.
Vets and their family members also enjoyed a free barbecue after they got off the river.
In addition to the VFW, the event was sponsored by the Durango Elks Lodge and Mountain Waters Rafting.
The VFW also holds its Veterans Social Club from 4 to 6 p.m. each Thursday at the VFW, 1550 Main Ave. Also, on Nov. 9, the VFW plans to hold its second annual Veteran Ball at the VFW.
parmijo@durangoherald.com