Soldier RideWounded warriors heal on the road
Lance Cpl. Patrick J. Floto
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. � For some veterans, particularly the combat-wounded, the biggest battle may not be the War on Terrorism itself, but coping with the injuries and disabilities.
Many organizations across the United States and beyond exist to help these wounded warriors find a unique way to recover from what was inflicted in battle.
For more than 75 wounded servicemembers, the best way to heal is to take action and accomplish something few have ever done: take part in a 3,000-mile bicycle ride across the country.
The cross country bicycle ride, an annual event known as Soldier Ride, began May 6 when the participants dipped the wheels of their bicycles in the Atlantic Ocean at Montauk Point, N.Y and ended July 29 with another dip in the Pacific Ocean here.
The 12-week odyssey was broken up into one week segments. The participants were able to join the cause for as long as they please.
Along the long route there were supporters cheering the participants on.
�Almost all of my adult life, I have been stationed at Fort Bragg where just about every civilian in town is a military relative,� said former Army Sgt. Andrew Biddle. �The consistency of American support for the troops is unbreakable. This is the first time I have truly seen just how much the military is appreciated.�
Bob Mullin, a supporter of Soldier Ride, flew from his home in Massapequa, N.Y. to San Clemente just to watch them finish the ride.
�I went to the park in Montauk Point and saw these young men missing arms and legs, but still in great shape heading across the country on bicycles,� said Mullin, a former Marine sergeant and retired New York Fire Department captain. �They served their country well, and they deserve our respect. They have true military spirit, and their courage is an inspiration to all.�
Mullin was joined by numerous other veterans� organizations such as several chapters of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Patriot Guard.
In addition to those who served, one performer particularly close to the Marine Corps rode with the wounded warriors.�When I played �Joker� in the movie �Full Metal Jacket,� I began a special relationship with the Marine Corps,� said Matthew Modine. �When I began visiting hospitals housing the combat wounded, I realized just how important it was to show our support for the troops.�
The Soldier Ride is an annual event put on by Soldier�s Angels, a support group that was founded by a mother of a former soldier in the summer of 2003 when she heard from her son that not every soldier was getting letters and care packages from home.
Since then, the group has expanded to a non-profit organization with branches at military hospitals across the United States and overseas. The group now hosts several projects to send supplies to wounded soldiers. For more information on Soldier�s Angels, visit their website at http://www.soldiersangels.org .
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Marathon for the Fisher House LandstuhlMarathon for the Fisher House Landstuhl
http://sponsormywalk.info/My name is Norm Raynal; I am a 64-year old diabetic who works for the Defense Commissary Agency. I have been wondering, perhaps like many of you, how to stay healthy and do something beneficial with my off-duty time. I tried several different activities, but nothing seemed "right" for me�too time-consuming, limited exercise, and especially no sense of feeling like I was doing something worthwhile�nothing seemed to "fit.� I told a good friend about my dilemma and she suggested I consider volunteering at the Fisher House. I had no idea what the Fisher House was. When I saw an ad looking for volunteers to help the Fisher House clean up after the holidays, I thought about her suggestion and decided to give it a try.
The manager was kind enough to take some time from her busy day to explain what the Fisher House provides for service members and their families. I learned that in our area, there are two Fisher Houses collocated to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center that provide a �home away from home� for families assisting wounded service members or who are themselves receiving medical care at Landstuhl. During 2004, these two houses assisted over 900 families.
The Fisher Houses depend on donations to maintain their operation. To support this worthwhile cause, I will walk five 42.9 marathons and ask each of you to pledge a dollar amount for each kilometer I walk or a dollar amount for each marathon I walk. No walk �no donation.
Kathy Gregory provided me with more ideas and suggestions and along with another friend, Berndt Schwarz, we put this web site together. Karin Hand did the final edit so Kathy Reed could do the English - German translation what we will post in the near future. Thanks to my friends, we are able to reach out to the community for support.
Your donation after the first, third and fifth marathon will directly go to the service members and their families who stay at the Landstuhl Fisher Houses.
I ask you to help those who fight for our freedom by being generous with your pledge.
As the Manager of the Landstuhl Fisher Houses I welcome the support you will provide us. We do not receive any government funding and our operating costs come from donations and the $10 room fee. The Fisher House Foundation that is listed on the Combined Federal Campaign is a separate Fund that solicits money for building new Fisher Houses, supporting existing Fisher Houses and helping individual families in need. Charitable activities like this 5 X marathon help us meet our donation goal as well as spread the word that the Landstuhl Fisher Houses are here to help our families in need. We estimate $155,000 will be needed this year, so we thank you for your pledge which will help us provide care and support. You will be helping to keep a family unit together and assisting each family through their medical crisis by giving us the ability to provide �compassionate care beyond the call of duty�.