Wednesday, Nov 11, 20098:41:18 AM PT
By Darrell Parks
For most of these combat-wounded veterans the Wounded Warrior program offers the approach to lapse to an active lifestyle. Most of these group as good as women have been physically active via their lives as good as have been fervent to reclaim an jaunty activity. The program offers the possibility to get upon the bike as good as prove to themselves, Hey, you can still do this."
Its hard to kick roving in the Florida Keys in January!
Last year you had the privilege of spending the little time with the Soldier Ride participants during the Tour of California. My encounter with the riders was such the relocating experience which you motionless to devote the little time to helping foster their events. This year you had the honor of assembly most bleeding warriors during opposite Soldier Ride events form Florida to California. Even some-more inspirational was the possibility to essentially experience in the couple of internal Soldier Rides as good as float alongside these dauntless group as good as women.
Traffic is privileged upon the 7 mile overpass for the Soldier Ride participants.
My first Soldier Ride eventuality this year was the 4th annual Sunshine State Challenge which starts in Miami. This is the single of the some-more renouned events as Florida is obviously the good place to be in January! The float starts in South Beach, traveling by the Florida Keys, as good as ends in Key West the couple of days later. you bending up with the riders upon the second day as they rode via the center keys.
Former pro cyclist Saul Raisin leads out the Soldier Ride in the Florida Keys.
Saul Raisin led out the Keys float by the city of Marathon. Saul suffers from the same disability which is the common injury between Wounded Warriors. Saul lives with Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, as the outcome of the horrific crash sustained whilst racing in Europe. Its estimated which TBI accounts for roughly twenty-five percent of combat casualties suffered by US Forces in the Global fight upon Terror scarcely 5000 service members!
The riders suffer the good deserved rest stop during the Disabled American Veterans post.
The days rest stop was held during the internal DAV (Disabled American Veterans) post where the warriors were greeted by the outrageous entertaining crowd. They were afterwards treated with colour to the welcoming ceremony by the internal American Legion Color Guard. A nice lunch was donated as good as served by the Veterans Council as good as most alternative internal volunteers. Donations from internal fund raising events were additionally voiced as good as distributed during the stop. The internal organizations as good as citizens of the Florida Keys positively went all out to await the Warriors of the Soldier Ride. The day accomplished with the beautiful float across the important seven mile bridge. Before the warriors headed home upon Sunday, Key Wests most important resident, Jimmy Buffett stopped by to contend hello as good as provide the riders to breakfast.
Captain Jonathan Pruden (US Army) as good as SSG Mike Fradera (US Army retired) simulate upon the day's ride.
A month after warriors from the West Coast met in Santa Barbara for the 2nd Annual Soldier Ride: Golden State. This eventuality enclosed rides in Santa Barbara, Santa Monica as good as San Diego. After the beautiful float in Santa Barbara the warriors headed to Paso Robles to locate the finish of the 5th theatre of the Amgen Tour of California. It was the stirring finish as Columbias Mark Cavendish out sprinted Quicksteps Tom Boonen for the win.
The warriors picked the good Tour of California theatre to locate the finish of in Paso Robles.
I met up with the warriors after the competition as they were invited to Team Astanas hotel for an inside look during pro cycling. The riders were given the road racing authority by Sean Yates together with the few colorful nuggets from his time outlayed in the pro peloton.
Astana DS as good as cycling legend Sean Yates addresses the Warriors.
The riders were afterwards treated with colour to the encounter as good as good with Astana riders Chris Horner as good as Gregory Rast. Greg as good as Chris fielded questions from the Warriors with topics trimming from competition radios as good as crashes to, of course, racing alongside Lance Armstrong. These pro racers seemed to have the genuinely good time responding to questions, handing out swag, as good as signing autographs for the Warriors.
Susan Katz, USOC Paralympics, spends the little time with Gregory Rast as good as Chris Horner.
Specialist Sean McEndree (US Army Retired) is all smiles as Chris Horner has the throng in stitches.
After the encounter as good as greet the riders were given the singular treat. They were any invited to check out the Trek Livestrong road bike belonging to the single Mr. Lance Armstrong. The riders additionally got to see the Astana mechanics building up the brand new TT bike for Lance as his stolen TT bike had only been recovered which day.
Melissa Stockwell poses for the design with Lance's Livestrong bike.
My subsequent encounter with the Soldier Ride was tighten to home with the 3rd annual White House to Lighthouse Challenge in April. President Barack Obama welcomed the Warriors to the White House to kick off the 2009-2010 National Soldier Ride Tour. Flanked by Senators as good as alternative VA leaders, the president welcomed guests as good as thanked the troops for their service. There have been heroes between us today, the president said. Men as good as women who served their nation without falter, without fail; group as good as women who selflessly risked their lives upon behalf of others, so which others might live. President Obama shared the stories of riders Sergeant Jeremiah Church, Sergeant First Class Rashe Hall, as good as Staff Sergeant Dillon Behr, any of whom were awarded the Silver Star for their drastic actions in Iraq as good as Afghanistan.
President Barack Obama kicks off the float during the White House.
The president commended all of the warriors for their courage to come back from their injuries, as good as famous the families who supported them. He asked everybody who saw the supplement to express their appreciation. To any the single who's along their track this weekend, you ask you to go out there as good as cheer. Salute. Say thank you. And we'll do the partial to await the troops, their families, as good as all who have ragged the unvaried of the United States of America -- since when it comes to their service as good as sacrifice, warm words as good as gestures have been some-more than warranted, but they're not scarcely enough.
The president additionally pledged to perform promises America has done to veterans. Just as these bleeding warriors have been there for the single another, this nation is starting to be there for them, he said.
Staff Sergeant Joe Beimfohr (US Army Retired) cruises past the Washington Monument.
This was the special Soldier Ride for me as it was my first experience of essentially cycling with the warriors. The D.C. kickoff additionally brought alternative guest riders, together with several spouses, member from Soldier Rides unite U-Haul, as good as actor Matthew Modine. you assimilated up with the group of some-more than 40 Wounded Warriors as good as guests as they departed from the White House.
Riding with the Warriors down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the Capitol building.
The Soldier Ride eventuality the single after another over the White House with rolling road closures by the streets of the US capitol. you felt unapproachable to be roving with these dauntless cyclists as tourists as good as bystanders cheered them upon whilst you done the approach down Pennsylvania Avenue to the finish upon Capitol Hill. We were welcomed upon the Capitol stairs with warm greetings from Senators Lamar Alexander (TN) as good as Richard Burr (NC), as good as Representatives Wally Herger (CA), Walter Jones (NC), as good as Paul Kanjorski (PA).
Lance Corporal Jose Gasca (USMC), Staff Sergeant Alfredo Delosantos (US Army), Staff Sergeant Brian Schar (US Army), as good as Sergeant Patrick Marziale (US Army) relax after their float by Washington DC.
The final day of the Whitehouse to Lighthouse Challenge you found myself assembly up with the warriors in Annapolis, Maryland. you was fortunate to be the single of 70 guest riders, together with bullion award cyclist as good as Paralympian PierAngelo Beltrami, as good as the U.S. Navy Cycling Team. At the commencement of the day in Annapolis, Steve Carr, chief of staff for the mayor of Annapolis, led out the group upon the tour of the city.
The US Navy Cycling Team joins the warriors in Annapolis.
We biked from Jonas Green Park by the campus of the U.S. Naval Academy as good as ancestral Annapolis. At the Naval Academy, throngs of midshipmen as good as instructors clapped as good as cheered for the warriors. The crowds were intensely energetic as good as seemed to be 4 to five low along much of the track by the Academy. Woody Groton, Soldier Rides director, said, It was refreshing to see the warriors roving with all the people ancillary them as if it were the Tour de France.
Cheered upon by the throng during the Naval Academy in Annapolis.
First Lieutenant Andrew Kinard (USMC) flies the US Navy cycling team jersey during the Annapolis ride.
Sergeant Brent Hendrix (US Army Ret), Staff Sergeant Brian Schar (US Army), as good as Sergeant Brian Taylor (US Army) lead the group up the stand upon the Annapolis ride.
The float concluded in ancestral downtown Annapolis during Armadillos Pub. The warriors were treated with colour to good food as good as intoxicating beverage interjection to the munificence of the proprietor. The riders were vehement to complete another infantryman ride. Some of them had only accomplished their first, the little had finished as well most to remember, but they were all certain this the single was not starting to be their last.
A blind Warrior gets the "hi 5" whilst roving the tandem.
As the Nov temperatures begin to dip, Im reminded which winter will soon be rearing its glacial conduct here in Virginia. Its time for me to devise my subsequent infantryman float as well. Jan in the Florida Keys sounds only about perfect.
Warriors have been cheered upon during the Navel Academy in Annapolis.
For information as good as to experience in the ride, email Woody Groton, Soldier Ride's director, or call (904) 296-7350 for further Soldier Ride updates as good as news.
For some-more Wounded Warrior images visit: DarrellParks.com
Soldier Ride Schedule:
Soldier Ride, High Desert, Las Vegas, NV Phoenix, AZ, Nov 10-15, 2009
Soldier Ride, Sunshine State, Miami Key West, FL, Jan 13-17, 2010
Soldier Ride, Lone Star State, San Antonio Austin Dallas, TX, March, 17-21, 2010
Soldier Ride, Washington to Annapolis, Washington, D.C. Andrews Air Force Base Annapolis, Maryland, Apr 28 -May 2, 2010
Soldier Ride, Golden State: Oxnard - Los Angeles - San Diego, California, May 19-23, 2010
Soldier Ride, Midwest: Waterloo Milwaukee Chicago, June 9-13, 2010
Soldier Ride, Empire State, New York, NY Long Island, NY, Jul 21-25, 2010
Soldier Ride,Tenessee, Fort Campbell, KY - Nashville, TN, September 22-26, 2010
Soldier Ride, Carolinas, Ft Bragg Charlotte, NC October 13-17, 2010
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