Archery as a Veteran’s Path to Peace

Fundamentally the marksman aims at himself and may even succeed in hitting himself–Eugen Herrigel

The War Doesn’t End When You Come Home

For many veterans, the fight doesn’t stop when you have a DD-214 in hand. The noise follows. The mission fades. And the silence gets loud. But in the space between breath and release, something shifts.

That’s where archery comes in, not as a sport, but as therapy. Real therapy. Ancient therapy. The kind you can’t bottle.

Why the VA Recognizes Archery as Therapy

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs lists archery under its adaptive sports programs—for good reason. It helps with:

• Focus and mindfulness

• Balance and strength

• Mental clarity and control

It’s not just about hitting a target. It’s about calming the war inside. Every shot slows the world down. Every arrow is a conversation with your own thoughts.

Finding the Bow, Finding Peace

In 2020, I stepped into the Salt Lake City BRCC parking lot with a bow for the first time. Getting dialed in…Game changer. Since then, I’ve been to almost every Total Archery Challenge event. I helped organize the first three Veteran Adaptive Athlete Shoots. I still shoot the same PSE Stealth, not for the flash, but because it works.

What Makes Archery Different

Fred Bear nailed it: “A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” It’s about holding tension—and learning how to let go. It’s about rhythm. Focus. Breath. Healing.

Why Arrow and Honor Co.

We don’t just make patriotic shirts. We’re building a tribe of warriors who aim for more. People who fight for peace with the same fire they fought in war. People who wear their scars with pride and find power in every draw.

Our motto?

Forged in War. Focused in Peace.

Draw. Aim. Heal.