Ian Brickey (314) 238-6766, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
Albany, N.Y. -- The New York State Division of Veteran Services has appointed Lt. Col. (retired) Aaron Leonard to co-lead the task force charged with implementing the state’s recently enacted Outdoor Rx Act. Leonard currently serves as a Sierra Club Military Outdoors campaign representative. The law, originally sponsored by Assemblymember Didi Barrett and Sen. Brian Benjamin, seeks to remove barriers that prevent New York veterans from accessing the state’s public lands to heal from service-related injuries and trauma. The task force will make recommendations on how to improve veterans’ access to New York’s public lands. A report from the group is expected in May 2021.
In response Sierra Club Military Outdoors campaign manager Rob Vessels released the following statement:
"Signing the Outdoor Rx Act into law was the first step. The work continues. After serving a full career in the U.S. Army, Lt. Col. Leonard now serves veterans struggling with service-related trauma, and his expertise in the field of outdoors adventure therapy will be a valuable addition to the task force.
"The task force’s recommendations will be essential to fulfilling the law’s promise of making New York’s treasured public lands places of healing for all veterans in the Empire State. Sierra Club Military Outdoors is excited to participate in that important process."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.