Perry visits 'Mighty Warriors' retreat

HAWKINS, Texas (KXAN) - Gov. Rick Perry has joined veterans and their families at the America’s Mighty Warriors Retreat.

The AMW organization is partnering with Ed Young and Fellowship Church of Grapevine to sponsor a week-long retreat at Allaso Ranch for vets and their families.

“The sacrifices made by our military members are profound and every soldier, sailor, airman and marine holds an exalted place in our nation’s history and a special place in our hearts,” Perry said.

“But we can never forget the sacrifices of the people left behind as their loved ones go to war. Family members live through every skirmish and every battle right alongside their loved ones and have as much on the line as anyone,” he added.

AMW was founded by Debbie Lee in honor of her son, U.S. Navy SEAL Marc Alan Lee, who was killed in action while in Ramadi. He was the first Navy SEAL to lose his life when the war stated in Iraq.

Debbie Lee created the organization to honor her sons final words and to thank, support and encourage the troops and their families through random acts of kindness.

In Lee’s last letter home before his passing, he challenged his family and friends to “pass on the kindness, the love, the precious gift of human life to each other so that when your children come into contact with a great conflict that we are now faced with here in Iraq, that they are people of humanity, of pure motives, of compassion.”