SSG Sean Fowler, US Army (Retired) was born on March 5th, 1986 in Columbus, Ohio. He joined the U.S. Army Infantry in 2005 and completed Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, GA. After completing training, he was assigned to 1-38 Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, WA. He was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 for a total of 26 months. In 2007, he received a Purple Heart for wounds received during an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) incident in Baghdad, Iraq. In 2012, he was reassigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) in Arlington, VA. While serving in 4th Battalion, Honor Guard Company, he participated in ceremonial operations  to honor our nation’s fallen, including marching in full honors funerals and President Barack Obama’s second inauguration parade. In 2014, he was selected to serve at the Pentagon as Congressional Escort with the Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison, traveling the world with congressional delegations on official business overseas. Inevitably succumbing to years of chronic back and leg pain, Sean had major surgery in 2015 to fuse herniated discs at the L4/L5 and L5/S1 portions of his spinal column. After surgery, Sean hit rock bottom, got addicted to the painkillers he was prescribed, and considered taking his own life. Remembering the service and sacrifice of others who fought and died, he took his life back reconstituted as an opportunity for growth and mental freedom. After being medically retired from the Army in 2016, he enrolled at George Mason University and continued his federal service with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Sean earned an undergraduate degree in Business, Information Systems and Operations Management from George Mason University in 2021 and started a plant sales and consulting company called vetGROWS LLC. He is currently living in Washington DC and leading multiple initiatives to help military veterans and families. Sean is an advocate for mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and the healing power of horticulture.