WALLACE — Rev. Timothy Watson was pleased as he looked around the parking lot of Kirby’s Pit Stop on July 3.
There were various cars on display along with the smell of barbecue on the grill.
“Ronnie Kirby has gone above and beyond by hosting this car show and barbecue fund-raiser,” Watson said.
Kirby hosted the event to raise money for Christian Veterans of America, which is an outreach division of Agave Church of America. Watson is the founder and CEO.
“What we are celebrating is not free,” he said. “If we are going to keep it, we are going to have to fight for it.”
During the event, anyone who served in the armed forces received a free audio Bible. 
Watson gave away a pin developed by the Department of Defense to anyone who served during the Vietnam era 1955-75. 
Christian Veterans of America provide veterans with medications, housing, and other services.
Watson said what the organization needed was people to support their efforts monthly because they do a lot now but there is a lot left to be done. 
“Those coming home from Afghanistan don’t need more bars,” he said. “They don’t need a bunch of lip service. They need good vocational training.”
His background is fire and water restoration. He would love to see a school started in Bennettsville or locally to train veterans to do this work. 
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/helpamericanveterans.org/
Barbara Arthur of Hartsville spoke to the veterans and guests.
“Americans need to remember that our country is a free country because of the sacrifice of men and women who willingly gave their lives so we can live free and practice the first amendment and practice the constitution,” she said.
She added organizations like Christian Veterans of America are important.
“As a country, we have a responsibility to take care of the men and women who fought for our freedom,” Arthur said. “We dropped the ball somewhere. It is an issue that needs to be focused on. Our veterans should not be homeless.”
Donnie Stonebreaker of Wallace had a 2017 Polaris Slingshot  and 2017 Dodge Challenger on display at the car show.
The Polaris was customized with skulls and the Grim Reaper. He participates in car shows frequently. 
“We came out to support the veterans,” he said.
His wife, Sharon, brought her 2017 Challenger to show. They go to shows every weekend if it is not raining. 
Timothy Wiles, president of Renovo Advantage and PTSD Survival School, spoke to veterans about  post traumatic stress.  He uses a protocol for  post-traumatic stress disorder through non-drug options such as a device that does neurostimulation. 
It is FDA approved for pain, depression,  anxiety, and insomnia. 
“Since it is non-drug, you don’t have the side effects that weigh so many people down and can lead to other things really bad,” he said. “This is something near and dear to our heart.”
At the PTSD Survival School, organizers teach lifestyle factors and non-drug ways to increase resources in the body, the brain, and spirituality, relationships so people can function well and get back to society and find a new purpose in being able to serve God and country in a new way.
PTSD survival school started with Wiles’ own tragedy. Thirty years ago, he had a terrible accident while serving in the Army. He came off the top of a building from four stories and crushed his heels, his back, and sustained a head injury. 
“I was trying to figure out how to live,” Wiles said. “I wanted to be able to pass on things I learn to other people.”
The faith-based organization began in 2011 and has worked with 2,500 veterans and their spouses in 40 states across the country.
He said working  with  the families is absolutely important and it is a vital step in maintaining help.
“We work with anybody regardless of their faith or no faith,” Wiles said. “We want them to know someone is going to care for them and be with them. We do some pretty unique things with the type of testing we do and the treatments we do that go a long way.” 
For more information, visit ptsdsurvivalschool.com or renovoadvantage.com.