Dear Camp Corral Family,
I’m not entirely sure this message is landing in the right inbox, but I’m writing with the hope that these words find their way to the hearts of the people who make Camp Corral what it is. The ones who work behind the scenes, who raise the funds, support the mission, and believe, truly believe, in the power of giving military children a place to feel seen, safe, and celebrated.
Right now, my twins are spending their final week at Camp Gorham. One last magical week. And as I write this, my eyes are filled with tears, not just because we’re closing the door on another summer, but because we’re saying goodbye to a chapter that helped shape their entire childhood. To something I never even realized we needed until you gave it to us.
Camp Corral, you gave my children a gift I never could’ve given on my own. You gave them freedom. Not just the kind that comes from climbing trees or splashing in lakes (though you gave them that too), but freedom from the invisible weight they carry as the children of a Purple Heart veteran. For one sacred week each summer, you gave them a break from being “resilient,” from being “strong,” from carrying more than any child should. You gave them a place where they didn’t have to explain. A place where they weren’t defined by their story but supported because of it.
You gave them the chance to simply be kids. Wild, messy, silly, fearless kids. And that… that is a kind of priceless I’ll never be able to repay.
Year after year, you gave them one week where the world felt lighter, kinder, and full of magic. One week where they grew into themselves, through laughter, friendship, adventure, and connection. A week where they found healing without even knowing they needed it. Where they met peers who understood without words. Where they gained confidence, pride, and courage that they brought home with them, summer after summer.
Now, as we say goodbye to camp, my heart aches. But it also overflows.... with love, with gratitude, with awe for the way you’ve touched our lives. You may never meet my children, but I promise you: what you’ve done for them will live in them forever.
Thank you for all you’ve done for my children, from the bottom of my heart.
With love and endless gratitude,
Aubrey Lee Minkler