In a West Hollywood gym, they gather every Thursday afternoon to work out, talk about their struggles and to give thanks. The charity program called Merging Vets & Players brings together mostly combat veterans and some former professional athletes, many of them former NFL players, who bare their souls in an hourlong "fireside chat." "What this program has given me is hope and support," says one veteran. "What I've said to everybody is, 'I'm not allowed to be depressed anymore. If I'm depressed then somebody is going to kick me in my [butt] and tell me, 'Get up, and let's go.'

Source: Los Angeles Times November 23, 2017 13:05 UTC