Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior - Carl von Clausewitz

Halloween is quickly approaching and the “What to be? What to do?” dilemma is weighing heavy on me. Do I get dressed up and go to the same old Halloween party or do I stay home in my sweats and pass out candy? Well, unlike me 40 lucky soldiers don’t have to make that choice; they’ll be the guests of Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion’s annual Halloween bash.

As usual, this year’s Halloween party will probably be filled with drunken debauchery, naked people swimming in the Grotto, Playboy Playmates, and Hollywood stars. Pretty cool for the soldiers, but why the sudden acts of kindness?  I thought Hefner only wanted lingerie-wearing beauties and young celebrities at his parties.  Maybe his age is softening him and he’s beginning to worry about his looming mortality?  Or, maybe he’s trying to atone for his hedonistic lifestyle and secure a spot for himself in heaven? 

The party’s executive director Jose Dominguez says, “Hef was kind enough to let the Wounded Warrior Project be a beneficiary. Proceeds will help severely wounded veterans that have recently served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Halloween is the most sought-after night at the Mansion so it was a good opportunity to support our veterans and enjoy a great party at the same time". Tickets for the event are pricey, general admission starts at $1,000 and goes up to $15,000 for VIP tickets. Who knew you could buy your way into the Playboy Mansion

Regardless of your personal opinions on Hugh Hefner, the Playboy image, or war in general, Hefner is offering tens of thousands of dollars and a fabulous evening for people that really deserve it. I think most people want to see our returning vets get the medical and psychological help they need. 

Many returning vets suffer from catastrophic injuries such as Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and amputations.  The majority of these injuries are career ending and lead to a lifetime dependent on caregivers.  We’ve all heard the horror stories of critically injured vets waiting months for the most basic health care, or losing their benefits because they are no longer active military, or having a family destroyed by bankruptcy and divorce due to the financial and emotional toll that is placed on them. 

These issues are precisely what the Wounded Warrior Project is working to change. The Wounded Warrior Project supports critically injured men and women returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan and helps them on the road to healing, both physically and mentally.

According to the WWP website, “Over the past 4 years, WWP has listened to the needs and concerns from family caregivers of critically injured service men and women.  Respite care, mental health counseling, technical assistance, health care coverage and a modest stipend can make the difference between a warrior being able to receive the care and services they need in their own homes and communities rather than in institutional or nursing home settings”.

The ultimate objective is to provide concrete support for the severely wounded and help them on the road to healing, both physically and mentally. Initially, the WWP delivered backpack survival kits to wounded warriors but has expanded to creating legislation designed to offer lifelong protection to wounded vets. They also offer transitional training, caregiver recreational activities, family counseling services, peer mentoring, and a program called warriors to work.

Wow! Good people doing good things.

Stacy Matson is a health enthusiast from Southern California and regularly blogs on Celebrity Health for A Healthier World, as well as contributing to the Best of the Best.