About Us
About US
Our founder and Executive Director Michele Ladd is a mother of two Veterans and knows all too well the struggles of her sons as they transitioned out of the Military. Also, being the daughter of a deceased US Air Force LT Col who died of complications of Agent Orange, she became extremely passionate about raising awareness to the challenges our brave men and women are faced with.
In 2017 Michele purchased the first Hero Mobile and planned an 8000-mile tour around the country to thank American heroes for their sacrifices and services. Michele visited National Guards, Veteran Organizations, and Veteran Owned Businesses.
After 5 months of this tour, Michele heard hundreds of stories of trauma, PTSD, divorces and sadly, many suicides. Michele says the sacrifices she made such as extreme loneliness, spending nights in Walmart parking lots and truck stops, multiple break downs, having to empty her tanks and with multiple injuries, she would do it all over again.
In 2020 Michele started to meet mothers that lost their sons and daughters to suicide and started a Faith Based Facebook group to offer the mothers peer support. Today there are 125 mothers in the group. If you know of a mother of veteran suicide, please direct them to http://facebook.com/groups/mothersofveteransuicide
In 2018 Michele met her now husband Randy Schue. Michele told Randy, a Navy Veteran that if he fell in love with her, he needed to know that she is a "gypsy", and she will drag him all over the country to help her heroes. Randy sold his home, took an early retirement and in 2021 they were married, and Randy joined Michele in this life she calls "Protectors HOPE" tour.
Michele was self-funded and encouraged to form a nonprofit so in 2019 National Veteran Resources was founded.
Michele and Randy have met thousands of Veterans and their families and do everything they can to prevent suicide while offering love and support to the families left behind.
Since 2019 we have assisted 320 Veterans and their families with resources and healing retreats. In addition, more than 20 children of Veteran Suicide have received clothing and special occasion gifts. We have traveled over 175,000 miles YTD.
Our Board of Directors are Veterans and Family members.
Veteran Gary Pratt: Treasurer
Veteran Wife Maryanne Pratt: Secretary
Veteran Mark Damato: Marketing
Veteran Wife Tracy Damato: Creative Programs
Here are a few of the news reports as we travel the country:
Columbia, SC News: https://www.wltx.com/article/features/hero-mobile-veterans-mental-health/101-c5960409-2351-4cb6-b3e2-8d06d0d20ea8
San Antonio, TX News: https://www.ksat.com/news/ny-woman-traveling-across-country-to-help-veteran-makes-stop-in-sa
Louisville, KY https://www.wlky.com/article/woman-traveling-across-country-stops-in-louisville-to-help-veterans/28983112 .