Gwinnett Daily Post

Photo by Tori Boone

DULUTH -- The founder of Operation One Voice recently traveled to Florida to meet with members of the U.S. Special Operations Command's Care Coalition, family readiness groups and wounded warriors.

Duluth Police Lt. Bill Stevens, who founded the nonprofit organization that supports the families of fallen and wounded Special Operations forces, and Eagle Rock Distributing Co.'s Laird Canby, the director of Operation One Voice, went to Fort Walton Beach and Hurlburt Field. Operation One Voice was one of several nonprofits that made presentations to military officials, according to a news release.

In addition, officials with the nonprofits listened to panels comprised of wounded Special Operations forces and Army Ranger, Navy SEAL, Marine and Air Force para-rescue personnel.

"During one of the panels, we listened to nine wounded warriors, (and) six had received financial support from our organization," Stevens said.

During the three-day visit, the group received several briefings and participated in several discussions. On the final day of the conference, Air Force Special Operations Command conducted a capabilities exercise.

"The AFSOC capabilities exercise was very impressive," Stevens said. "We witnessed firsthand how Special Operations teams composed of doctors and highly trained medical teams work hand in hand with other Special Operations Forces -- it was a kind of doctors with guns."