Like many, Kris and Dan Denette, of Denette Family Chiropractic, have made it a custom to honor our troops and our veterans. A flag hangs outside their office and the two take time to recognize Memorial Day, Veterans Day and theFourth of July.
As you walk into their office on Washington Street, a Zell Miller quote hangs on the wall just to the right of the front desk.

"For it has been said so truthfully that it is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press," the quote reads. "It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the agitator who has given us the freedom to protest. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, serves beneath the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, who gives the protester freedom to abuse and burn the flag."

But for the local chiropracters, they are not all just talk. As a business, the husband and wife duo decided they wanted to show support as well.

"They protect all of our freedoms," Dan said. "They literally put their lives on the line for us. They don’t know me from Adam. But I owe them."

Next to the Miller quote on the wall is a testimonial from Chris Horton, a local veteran who has just returned from overseas.

Chris is one of three soldiers who recently returned from Afganistan or Iraq and has been getting care from Denette - for free.

"Returning vets from the Iraq and Afganastan conflict, we’re providing up to a years worth of care," said Dan. "So, if they only want to come in a few times that’s fine. If they want to come in for an entire year, that’s awesome."

Dan said the program, which includes as much care as necessary, was sparked after seeing many veterans return home with back issues. He said months and years of carrying heavy equipment, large backpacks, and moving from place to place have left returning soldiers with a variety of spinal issues.

"Neither one of us served in the military, and yet we have friends and colleagues that have served," he said. "We see all of the damage that happens to their spines and their back. So we just said, ‘ok, so how can we help them out?’"

The free care is not the only program Kris and Dan are providing local vets. They're also administering a personal care item drive to help hosipitalized veterans.

"A lot of people focus on our troops overseas, which is important. We want to support everyone serving overseas right now," said Kris. "But, not a lot of focus is on the people that come home."

Kris and Dan are encouraging patients to bring items like razor blades, soap, and shampoo. They're also encouraging local residents to stop by with supplies.

"We try to do a two-fold approach," said Dan. "If anyone in the community wants to help us out, that’s awesome. If anyone wants to just drop things off, that’s great. We also do a new clients special – if they bring in a certain amount of items, they get a reduced fee."

For current clients, every five items earns them a raffle ticket. The winner of the raffle at the end of the month wins a three-course meal cooked by Kris and Dan themselves.

Dan said the drive, which is in its third year and ends at the end of the month, is just another way they can do their duty as Americans.

"Because they’re veterans, they get all the hospital care and the medical care that they need," said Dan. "But, they don’t get all the extra stuff they need on a daily basis - extra things that are necessities. So, what we’re trying to do is just collect as much stuff as possible just to help out."

Between the drive and the free care, being chiropractors is the best way Kris and Dan know how to help. And, if you ask Chris Horton, it is working.

"I can’t thank Dr. Dan and Dr. Kris enough for giving me the free treatment for being a veteran," his testimonial reads. "It has made my life so much more comfortable and pain free, I couldn’t ask for better doctors."

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