Curators at Work: “Walking Off the War:” Veterans on the Appalachian Trail

Time Period
1925 to Today
Media Type
Video
Topics
Geography & Environment
Military History
Presenter
VMHC Curators

As you commemorate America’s servicemen and women on Veterans Day, you probably don’t think about the Appalachian Trail, the 2,200-mile hiking route from Georgia to Maine that passes through Virginia’s Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Mountains. But for U.S. Marine Corps veteran Sean Gobin, the AT became the catalyst for his own recovery from combat and the inspiration to help others “walk off the war.” He founded Warrior Expeditions, a non-profit organization that sponsors long-distance outdoor expeditions for veterans to promote healing from their wartime experiences.

On November 12, 2021, Sean Gobin talked with VMHC curator Karen Sherry about his remarkable journey. This virtual program also explores Gobin’s work with Warrior Expeditions and how it relates to AT history, as well as VMHC plans for featuring this veteran’s story.