1,051. 899. 836.

These numbers represent three lives that were saved through a new program in Carbon County.

Last week, family, friends, area veterans, county officials and Carbon County Veterans Treatment Court team members and participants gathered to celebrate three veterans from the county’s specialty court during the program’s first graduation.

Army veteran Jay Dalrymple of Brodheadsville, Navy veteran Edward Dubosky of Summit Hill and Air Force veteran Corey P., who wished to not include his full name or hometown, stood before Judge Joseph J. Matika and the Veterans Treatment Court team one last time and shared their stories before graduating from the program after nearly two years of hard work.

“We are here tonight to celebrate the successful completion of Veterans Treatment Court by three of our participants,” Matika said. “These individuals not only went above and beyond the call of duty for their country, but they went above and beyond all expectations when it came to their involvement in Veterans Treatment Court. These three individuals met all challenges and they succeeded.

“Our three graduates, at one point in their lives, hit rock bottom, but they had the courage to go beyond what seemed insurmountable objects to build that solid foundation of which they have begun to rebuild their lives,” he added. “Their rock bottoms are gut-wrenching, but how they got here tonight are truly stories of success. Corey, Jay and Ed, thank you for letting the Veterans Treatment Court play such an important part in your recovery.”

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Matika then asked the participants to do something he asked of them each week they stood before him in his courtroom: tell those in attendance how many days they chose to refrain from drinking or drugs.

For Dubosky, it was 836 days; Corey, 899; and Dalrymple, 1,051.

“When I first heard about Veterans Treatment Court, I had no idea what to expect,” Dalrymple said as he stood before those in attendance. “I was in sad shape, depression, anxiety, suicidal, no trust in anybody. All my thoughts were negative and I had no self-worth at all.

“Now, I feel good. It feels like an accomplishment and gives me some value in myself.”

Dalrymple said he started drinking when he was in the service and had been fighting it ever since. A couple of DUIs landed him in the court system and eventually in the program.

“Veterans Treatment Court provided avenues with what problems came to light for me,” he said. “I am now looking forward to repeating the positive outcomes from doing what is right.”

Corey said he was not proud of the decisions he made and hurt a lot of people around him through his actions.

Dubosky, who is a talented musician, wrote a song about his experience.

“The judge challenged me to write about this,” he said before singing “The Happy Courthouse.”

He said about graduating, “I feel very good about it.”

Dubosky added that he plans on going back to school.

“The Veterans Treatment Court pushed me to reach new levels,” he said.

The Carbon County Veterans Treatment Court has been in operation since January 2017 and is made up of various county agencies that help qualified veterans moving through the court system find help for drug, alcohol or mental health problems while staying out of the prison system.

“This is our first Veterans Treatment Court graduation in Carbon County,” Richmond Parsons, chief adult probation officer, said. “This is a momentous occasion. It’s really a change of direction on how we are trying to really address the drug, alcohol and mental health issues in Carbon County.

“Even though the Veterans Treatment Court gave them the structure and guidance that got them through this program, this is not an easy program. They should truly be commended for all their hard work and dedication on making this work for them.”

Matika ended the night by welcoming these men home again.

For photos go to:

https://www.tnonline.com/carbon-county-veterans-treatment-court-graduation