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VETERANS VS EVERYBODY RECESS
A SALUTE TO THE TROOPS | Veterans' Day Weekend
THE MISSION IS CONNECTION
A wellness experience designed to combat feelings of loneliness, isolation, and disconnection by using play, competition, community, and nostalgia to help veterans reconnect with camaraderie, joy, and themselves.
NOVEMBER 8-11, 2025
RALEIGH, NC
ALL DAY
WEEKEND EXPERIENCE
SPONSORS
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Purpose
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Veterans vs Everybody Recess is a Veterans Day weekend wellness experience designed to bring veterans, family, friends, and community together through play, conversation, connection, and community.
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This weekend is about reconnecting with familiar energy, building new relationships, and spending time with people who genuinely enjoy being around one another.
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We’re kicking things off on Friday with PT… a group hike. Nothing intense — just fresh air, movement, conversation, and an opportunity to check in with each other beyond the usual surface-level “I’m good.” Afterward, we’ll grab chow at a local spot, share stories, laugh a little, and continue getting to know one another.
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On Saturday, we're turning up the energy with a little friendly inter-service rivalry featuring co-ed flag football, dodgeball, kickball, Red Light Green Light, tug o' war, spades, dominoes, and more. Bragging rights are absolutely REAL.
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At its core, this weekend is about creating space for joy, camaraderie, and release. Quiet healing disguised as pure fun. Take some things out on the field if you need to ... and hopefully leave some things there too.
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Throughout the weekend, attendees will also have access to veteran resources, community partners, and support systems because staying connected matters.
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This isn't a ceremonial Veterans Day weekend. This is a real salute to the troops from a community that sees you, values you, and knows how to celebrate you because we are you ... and a reminder that we got us.
THE IMPACT
1. COMBATS ISOLATION
A lot of veterans struggle with isolation after service because they miss:
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structure
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brotherhood/sisterhoo
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belonging
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shared identity
Recess recreates that feeling of community in a low-pressure, joyful environment.
2. IMPROVES MENTAL
WELLNESS THROUGH PLAY
LGSR already understands something
many wellness organizations miss:
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Play Is medicine
Games, competition, laughter, movement, music, nature, and social connection help:
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reduce stress
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lower emotional exhaustion
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improve mood
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encourage social engagement
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and create emolional release
For veterans especially. joy itself can become therapeutic.
3. CREATES A NEW
NARRATIVE AROUND VETERANS
Most veteran events focus on:
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struggle
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trauma
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service
This one focuses on:
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LIFE after service
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joy after sacrifice
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community after transition
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and wellness after survival
That shift matters.
Veterans deserve spaces where they are celebrated as whole people - not only for what they endured.
4. BRIDGES
VETERANS & CIVILIANS
"Veterans Vs EVERYBODY" creates
playful competition and interaction
between:
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veterans
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supporters
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community members
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organizations
That helps civilians engage with
veterans in a more authentic, human, and relational way.
Meet Our Vendors
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
A SALUTE TO THE TROOPS
May this weekend remind you that camaraderie did not end when the uniform came off, and that you were never meant to navigate life alone.#NeverAlone
OH, AND WE'LL HAVE
RESOURCES ON HAND
FOR YOU TO CONNECT WITH
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
VETERAN SERVICES
COMMUNITY ORGANCZATONS
CAREER EDUCATION
WELLNESS RECOVERY
You're not in this alone. We got you.