Documentary screening features Veterans Ranch

The Central Oregon Veterans Ranch will screen its newly released documentary “Cover Me, The Path to Purpose” in Bend at Open Space Event Studios Saturday, April 29, with two showings for veterans, their families, and community members.

“Cover Me, The Path to Purpose” is a gripping documentary that tells the story of how the Veterans Ranch, a 19-acre farm, is challenging veteran suicide and changing the paradigm of veteran care. The documentary was filmed on location at the Central Oregon Veterans Ranch in June 2022. It was written by the Veterans Ranch founder, Alison Perry, alongside Dale Fabrigar; directed by Dale Fabrigar; and produced by Suzanne DeLaurentiis and Alison Perry. A screening was held in Los Angeles September 17, 2022 and the movie was released on Amazon streaming services early 2023. The film has been recognized by IndieEye Film Awards as Best Documentary Short and Pure Magic International Film Festival as September 2022 Best Documentary.

The documentary highlights the Veterans Ranch’s innovative and “organic” approach to healing veterans with military trauma. Perry, a military family member and former trauma therapist in the Department of Veterans Affairs, has a vision that engages veterans in farming, agriculture, and peer support as a way of building community for an often marginalized and misunderstood population. The documentary features Perry’s articulation of the methodology of healing and the differences in a holistic approach vs. the traditional medical model, as well as the stories and testimonials of veterans who come to the Veterans Ranch. The film captures the beauty of the working farm in Central Oregon, an essential element to the sense of sanctuary.

“This is a model of care that transforms lives,” Perry said. “It’s about building community for a marginalized population. The military is like a family; when service members leave the service, it can be challenging to lose that brotherhood and sisterhood. The Veterans Ranch works to bring that camaraderie and kinship back, to restore their sense of purpose.”

Marv Kaplan, a board member at the Veterans Ranch who is interviewed in the documentary, said “This film gives you a glimpse of the appalling effects of what combat veterans experience… those ever-present feelings of hopelessness and despair along with being despondent are the basis for PTSD. The Central Oregon Veterans Ranch allows us to find ways to cope and redirect those negative feelings through camaraderie of men and women with similar experiences in all conflicts. The Ranch gives us a sanctuary where we have found a sense of belonging and purpose.”

The film screening at Open Space will be free for veterans and their immediate spouse, partner, or caregiver.

Community members will have the opportunity to buy tickets for the screening. Each showing will have space for 120 people to attend. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. for the first showing and the film starts at 1:45 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for the second showing and the film starts at 4:45 p.m. After each showing, there will be a short discussion panel with veterans from the Veterans Ranch and the film, as well as light appetizers and refreshments. For more information about the film and for ticket purchases, visit: https://bendticket.com/events/film-premiere-

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purpose-4-29-2023.