Lt. Joseph Theinert's Life Celebrated At Ranch Created To Help Veterans

SAG HARBOR, NY — June 4 will mark seven years since Lt. Joseph Theinert of Shelter Island and Sag Harbor gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

Theinert was killed while leading the 10th Mountain Division on an assault in an enemy position near Arif Kala in Afghanistan.

After his death members of the Shelter Island and Sag Harbor — where Theinert's father James Theinert lives — communities mourned the loss of the 24-year-old hero.

But in the years that followed, his family has shown strength and an unwavering dedication to his memory, rallying to help create the Stongpoint Theinert Ranch in New Mexico, a facility for veterans that features "outdoor adaptive experiences," his mother Chrys Kestler said — a place for healing of the body and soul.

In the Youtube video, "Strongpoint Theinert Ranch — Helping Our Nation's Veterans to Strengthen, Transition, and Reconnect," veterans discuss firsthand the therapeutic experience of bonding with others that have shared the same journey, while hiking, working and sharing in the mountains, opening hearts and finding hope.

"I have always felt this is the best way to honor Joey and remember his devotion to his men," said Lt. Theinert's mother Kestler. "Our entire family has been behind this project both in conceptualizing the idea of Strongpoint Theinert Ranch and doing the physical work to make this come to fruition. I'm incredibly proud of my sons, Jimbo and Billy, and my husband, Frank, for working so very hard to bring our dream of honoring Joey by helping our veterans to become a reality."

She added, "I'm humbled by the unending and extraordinary generosity of our donors. Shelter Island as a community has been the backbone of all our support. So I'm absolutely thrilled that STR is up and running. And I'm looking forward to continuing to make more progress so that we can assist more military members, their families, Gold Star Families and veterans. We still have much more work to do."

Funding, the video says, is still critically needed to build a bunkhouse that is handicapped accessible and can host up to 20 veterans at once. So far, $50,000 of the necessary $300,000 has been raised.

"For the past two years we have worked as a family to get Strongpoint Theinert Ranch up and running," said Jimbo Theinert. "With the help of the amazing people in our lives, we are up and running. Our capacity for positive change has not yet been reached, so please watch this video that has been a focus of mine for the past six months, and let me know if you can help in any way."

He added, "I have to say thank you and love you to Joe Theinert for inspiring me to try to be better every single day. It is Joe's legacy that is at the core of Strongpoint Theinert Ranch and perhaps the biggest reason why I want to see this project succeed."

Patch file photo.