Gabriel Golden said the group of hikers gathered in the R.W. Fritzinger VFW Post 7215, Walnutport, had all heard about the Warrior Hike program. It was founded by Earl Shaffer in 1948 to help returning soldiers "walk off the war."

Shaffer was the first person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Sean Gobin, who is now director of the program and considered a founder, formalized the program into a nonprofit under the name Warrior Hike. He was a Marine who went to Iraq twice and once to Afghanistan. He is a 2015 CNN Hero.The program is not limited to the Appalachian Trail but includes seven of the major hiking trails in the country. Equipment and supplies are provided by Warrior Hike.Trail towns, some of which provide hostels for hikers, are coordinated with veterans' organizations such as the VFW, American Legion and Marine Corps League when possible.However, most nights they camp out in tents provided by Warrior Hike.The object is to help returning veterans decompress from their military service. It is a form of outdoor therapy helping people reintegrate into civilian society. Some heard about Warrior Hike from the web and others heard about it from other hikers.The six began their hike at Springer Mountain, Georgia. They are 3-1/2 months into the trail and expect to reach Katahdin, Maine, by Sept. 11.Golden said the VFW helped him with his disability claim. Gobin donates a one-year membership in the VFW to every Warrior Hike participant.Joel Strait said every other day he thinks of leaving the trail, but, "With these guys it's nice to go with because there is a commonality. I've spent all my time seeing how good people are."Caitlin Murphy said, "What we really came here for was to find what we want to do after the military." For her it is falling into line. She will be moving to New Jersey where her daughter Pailyn, 4, is with family."I want to be an adventure photographer," she said. "That's what I got from the trip so far."Chaplain Dennis Newton hiked the entire route with them but was not at the VFW.