SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. – Veterans with disabilities often face significant challenges after military service, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries, vision loss or amputations. For some, recovery can be incredibly difficult. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes the value traditional and recreational therapy-based models play in the healing process. During the week of March 31 – April 5, 2025, VA and DAV (Disabled American Veterans) will co-host the 39th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic (NDVWSC), also referred to as Miracles on a Mountainside.

This premier rehabilitative and adaptive sports event allows disabled Veterans with traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, orthopedic amputations and visual impairments explore recovery through participation in downhill and cross-country skiing, sled hockey and other adaptive sports.

This year, approximately 400 disabled Veterans will participate and work to overcome real and perceived limitations. 

Below are a few of the countless story opportunities waiting for you to tell. 

Ryan Garza, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, did four tours in Afghanistan – and it was on that fourth tour that Lance Corporal Garza’s truck drove over an improvised explosive device (IED), severely injuring his right leg. Doctors tried for several years to save Ryan’s leg; however, he eventually decided to amputate in 2015. After the amputation, Ryan then went on to deal with thoughts of suicide, depression, and hopelessness.

In 2022, Ryan joined us for the first time at the Winter Sports Clinic. He shared, “I never thought I’d be able to snowboard. You feel the wind, you hear the ice and it gets me excited. It’s an awesome feeling!”

Mariela Meylan, a U.S. Army Veteran, was struck by a truck while serving in Kuwait. She suffered a TBI, collapsed lung, and severed liver; then had a stroke and slipped into a coma – for eight months. Meylan can offer her perspective about the ways the Winter Sports Clinic has helped her heal over the years by showing her she can still participate in adaptive sports.

Physical Therapist Kendra Betz has served for years as the Winter Sports Clinic Seating and Prosthetics Coordinator. “The Winter Sports Clinic is a premier and unparalleled adaptive sports event that provides outstanding support for Veterans to face and overcome challenges as part of a multi-faceted rehabilitation program,” she said. “Our goal is to optimize Veteran participation, well-being, and quality of life, as they breathe life to the catchphrase, ‘Miracles on a Mountainside,’ here in Snowmass every year.”

For the past decade, Betz’s daughter, Maddie, who works in a technology industry that supports people with disabilities, has volunteered with her mom in Snowmass, helping Veterans get out on the slopes, properly outfitted with their adaptive equipment. This dynamic duo provides insight into the role therapists, instructors, volunteers, and others play in helping Veterans reach their highest potential.

U.S. Air Force Reserve Citizen Airman Maj. Monica Riggs attended her first Winter Sports Clinic in 2024. The former Mrs. Kansas 2018 flew more than 100 combat missions during her 18 years of service, but in 2019, she received a diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis that changed her life.

Although life post-diagnosis comes with its challenges, Riggs remains determined not to let her chronic inflammatory disorder define her.

Riggs and many others can expand on these sentiments and share how the clinic earned the nickname “Miracles on a Mountainside.”

For more information contact our team at wintersportsclinic@va.gov, or 303-619-1145.

For service members, coffee isn’t just a beverage—it’s a lifeline. Whether fueling pre-dawn PT, long deployments, or late-night missions, the right brew keeps warriors sharp and ready for whatever comes next. Big Guns Coffee is a veteran-owned company that doesn’t just talk about strength—it brews it.

A Military Legacy, A Coffee Revolution

Big Guns Coffee isn’t your average coffee brand. Founded by Marine Corps Veteran, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker T. Shane Johnson and his 9-year-old daughter Charli, this company embodies resilience, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

T. Shane, who has overcome homelessness and life-threatening adversity, built Big Guns Coffee with the same unwavering determination that carried him through the toughest challenges of his military career. Charli, a budding entrepreneur with big ideas, envisioned a company that would not only produce exceptional coffee but push the boundaries of how and where it’s grown. Together, they launched the first-ever indoor hydroponic coffee farm in North Carolina—a bold step toward sustainable, American-grown coffee.

A Perfect Fit for Those Who Serve

As Big Guns Coffee expands, it aligns with the mission of The Army & Air Force Exchange Service, which provides goods and services at U.S. Army, Air Force, and Space Force installations worldwide. With its presence in department stores, convenience stores, restaurants, and more across 30+ countries and four U.S. territories, the Exchange has long been a trusted provider for service members. Big Guns Coffee is ready to be part of that legacy, bringing fresh, bold, and American-roasted coffee directly to the men and women who defend our nation.

Hydroponic Coffee: Innovation Meets Sustainability

For decades, coffee has been grown in tropical regions, thousands of miles from where it’s consumed. Big Guns Coffee is changing that narrative by pioneering hydroponic coffee farming, a soil-free method that allows coffee plants to thrive in nutrient-rich water. This innovative approach delivers superior quality by eliminating soil inconsistencies and exposure to harmful pesticides, resulting in a cleaner, richer flavor. It also champions sustainability, using significantly less water than traditional farming while reducing environmental impact and preventing fertilizer runoff.

Most importantly, it brings American-grown coffee to the forefront. Traditionally, coffee production in the U.S. has been limited to Hawaii, but Big Guns Coffee’s hydroponic farm in North Carolina introduces a fresh, homegrown option that is reshaping the industry.

Expanding Access: Bringing Big Guns Coffee to Military Retailers

Big Guns Coffee is on a mission to bring high-quality, fresh-roasted coffee directly to military communities. By partnering with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, the company aims to make its blends more accessible to service members at home and abroad. Whether grabbing a cup before heading to the flight line or stocking up for field exercises, troops deserve the best—and Big Guns Coffee is ready to deliver.

A Veteran-Owned Business That Understands the Mission

Military-serving retailers like the Exchange prioritize brands that understand the unique needs of service members. As a veteran-owned company, Big Guns Coffee is built on the same principles that drive military excellence—discipline, resilience, and mission focus.

“Our goal is simple: to provide high-quality coffee to those who push their limits every day,” says T. Shane Johnson. “As a Marine, I know firsthand the importance of a strong cup of coffee. Now, we’re taking that commitment even further by bringing American-grown coffee to military communities worldwide.”

A Bold Future for Big Guns Coffee

With 38 specialty blends sourced from around the globe, Big Guns Coffee already offers an impressive selection. But the future of coffee is growing in North Carolina, where the first hydroponically grown coffee beans are being cultivated for military personnel and coffee lovers alike. The company is also exploring new ways to expand access, including their Sprouts Farmer’s Market launch in May, ensuring that service members, veterans, and their families have a go-to source for fresh, mission-ready coffee.