GREAT FALLS – MTN recently brought you the story of a couple who started a business in Great Falls.
Falls Ink recently opened and is located at 3017 10th Avenue South. Owners Andrew Littrell and Kimberly Pegg opened their tattoo and piercing shop to offer a place for veterans and active military members to spend time and share experiences.
“We want to dedicate something more. Let these guys know that we love them and we do appreciate their service,” Littrell said.
Littrell expressed his passion for helping veterans because of his past. Since that story broke on MTN, numerous emails and messages have been sent to MTN questioning Littrell’s enlistment in the U.S Air Force.
“My character was totally questioned,” Littrell said.
Littrell was unable to provide what is known as a DD 214 form, which indicates military service.
MTN confirmed with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that Littrell was in fact enlisted and deployed.
“Enough is enough. I’m not going to sit here and be called a liar for what I’ve done. Shame on anybody that jumped on that bandwagon,” Littrell said.
A letter from the VA states Littrell served from October 2004 to April 2008. It also states he was deployed to Afghanistan and served his country and eventually received honorable discharge.
“I’m here to prove to Great Falls, to whoever the veterans and active military, that I am who I say I am,” Littrell said.
The letter, signed by Littrell’s VA social worker, states Littrell is receiving care for PTSD.
“After I got out, I found drugs. I had really bad nightmares and reverted to something else. I damaged my own character, my own integrity. But I flipped my life around quite some time ago,” Littrell said.
He told MTN he was inspired to join the Air Force and follow in his father’s footsteps.
“As a teenager I went down the wrong path a little bit. The Air Force changed my life. I was at a point in my life and my dad told me, ‘I don’t want you to die for nothing, if you are going to be crazy, I want you to die for something.’ And it just clicked. It made so much sense,” Littrell said.
He said he has the utmost respect for those who served and are still active in the military, which is why he opened Falls Ink.
“I’m here trying to do something positive and it got flipped in such a negative matter,” Littrell said.
Falls Ink offers 50 percent off tattoos and piercing to any veteran or active duty member.
Falls Ink is open Tuesday-Sunday 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. To schedule an appointment, you can call (406)-315-2929. You can also visit their Facebook page.
Reporting by Elizabeth Transue for MTN News
