SVRR Speaker Series: Marine Veteran and Editor of Permission to Walk in Peace

Topic Information
On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Silicon Valley Rainbow Rotary is pleased to host Craige Edgerton. His book Permission to Walk in Peace: Stories of Healing from Trauma as Told by Combat Veterans is an anthology he co-authored with seven other Veterans. It is 106 stories, essays, and poems about how they chose to change their Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) and have chosen to grow from their experience instead of being victims of it. These voices invite readers to better understand the true cost of conflict and the enduring human journey toward peace. Their goal is to provide inspiration to anyone with any kind of trauma in hopes that their stories
can lead to HEALING.

About the speaker
Craige served in the United States Marine Corp from 1968 to 1971 including 7 months in Vietnam, where he experienced combat. Craige started his writing practice at age 75, as suggested by his Vet Center counselor to help him deal with his negative issues regarding his time in Vietnam as a combat Marine. He fought it for many months and finally decided to try it just once. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of his life, and he hasn’t stopped writing since. Permission to Walk in Peace is the result of that effort. Craige is keen to share these stories with Rotarians, believing that Rotary’s commitment to peacebuilding and service makes it a meaningful audience for these reflections.

How to Join this Event
Our general meetings are hybrid:
- Join us in person in the upstairs conference room at the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center located at 938 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
- Join us via Zoom by send an email to svrainbowrotary@gmail.com and we’ll provide the Zoom meeting link.