BRANSON, Mo., October 27, 2013 – One’s “Birthday” is an annual event celebrating the date of their birth, the day their life began. Ones “Alive Day” is the date celebrated by a member of the U.S. Armed Forces that they received near fatal injuries from which they survived; the day they got a second chance at life.
For Nebraska Army National Guard Sergeant Dennis Cabanting that date was November 10th, 2006. While escorting a convoy in Western Iraq, the Humvee that he was a gunner in was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED.) As a result of that incident Cabanting suffered Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in May of 2007. Over the past seven years he has been been fighting a battle against the effects of his injury and illness progressing to the point where he recently participated in the Missouri Memorial Foundation walk at Jefferson Barracks, MO, where he was able to walk without his walker, using just a cane, to walk across the finish line.
Thanks to the support of his family, the Wounded Warrior Project and various Branson businesses Sergent Cabanting will be celebrating his “Alive Day” in Branson, Missouri on November 10 during Branson’s Veterans Homecoming Week running from November 5 – 11. Annette Wood, Director of Group Sales for the Branson Tourism Center said that they felt honored to work with Dennis’s family in creating a wonderful celebration focusing on Dennis’s “Alive Day’. Dennis will also be joining the VVA Chapter 913 during the Veteran’s Parade along with his mentor Angela Peacock and her service dog G.I.O.
