Wheelchair Games

[conlor]

We got this in our e-mail at work today:

More than 500 disabled veterans, including veterans of current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, gather in Minneapolis this week to compete in the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world, the 25th National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The Wheelchair Games, presented by VA and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), are open to all U.S. military veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition due to spinal cord injuries, neurological conditions, amputations or other mobility impairments. Sports are important in the therapy used to treat many disabilities. For many injured veterans, the Wheelchair Games provide their first exposure to wheelchair athletics. The Minneapolis VA Medical Center and the PVA Minnesota Chapter are hosting the 2005 Games. At the Games, veterans will compete in track and field, swimming, basketball, weightlifting, softball, air guns, quad-rugby, 9-ball, bowling, table tennis, archery, hand cycling, a motorized rally, wheelchair slalom and power soccer. Trap shooting, golf and a power wheelchair relay will be exhibition events this year. A special first-time wheelchair sports demonstration will be held at the Mall of American this Wednesday.
Thursday is "Kids Day at the Games," when local children will visit with the athletes and learn about wheelchair sports. Commemorative activities are also planned recognizing the 25th year of the event. Beginning June 30, individual news releases and photos of the athletes will be available on the Games' web site. For more information about the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, or to track events as they happen, visit www.wheelchairgames.org.

[Betty Boop]

Wheelchair Vets open National Games in Twin Cities

Hundreds of wheelchair-bound war veterans rolled into the Twin Cities Monday for the start of the 25th annual Veterans Wheelchair Games. The annual competition includes events ranging from basketball to bowling and table tennis to trap shooting. Most events are taking place at the Minneapolis Convention Center and all are free to the public.

The youngest competitor is 20-year-old James Crosby of Massachusetts. On March 18, 2004, as a Marine Lance Corporal, Crosby lost the use of his legs while serving in Iraq.

“We got hit by 3, 122-millimeter rockets,” he explained to KARE 11’s Allen Costantini. “They landed 10 to 15 yards to the left of the truck I was in.” The handsome young veteran said he remembers the entire incident, “I’d say about 25 minutes after I got hurt, I was in surgery for two hours, so because of all the medical advances now, they’re saving a lot more people out there.”

But while their lives are being saved, their pay is being cut, Crosby noted sadly, “Once you leave the combat zone, they take that combat pay away from you. So, it’s like you’re penalized for getting hurt.”

Crosby and his father authored a bill to change that and got Massachusetts Congressman Edward Markey to introduce it to congress.

The Crosby-Puller Wound Compensation Act is moving through the congress. It has already passed the U.S. House.

Crosby described its provisions eloquently. “It will give you $430 — in addition to your base pay — a month until you either return to active duty or get discharged to compensate for the loss of combat pay. And they’re going to make the bill retroactive back to 9-11, so anyone that has gotten hurt in combat since then, will receive a one-time lump sum check of no less than $25,000 and no greater than $100,000, depending on your disability. I mean it’s a real simple thing that everybody would think would just make sense. You’re hurt. You need the money the most. That’s when you should get it.”

Crosby never played basketball in high school. His sports were hockey and football. In these games, he is learning to use his old athletic talent from a seated position. Whether or not he wins a medal in basketball, the slalom obstacle course or any of the other events, he has already scored big for himself and his fellow wheelchair vets.

He shook his head about the bill that bears his name. “I mean, it took a Lance Corporal and his dad, who drives a truck, to put that together. Something should have been put together a long time ago.”

The loss of combat pay has strained many families of injured veterans and put some in dire financial straits. The new bill could ease that pain. Event organizers selected James Crosby to sound the horn that officially opened the competition Monday morning.


Schedule of games



By Allen Costantini
, KARE 11 News







(Copyright 2005 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)

Wasn't/isn't that what Sailordoc was so heavily involved with, Conlor?

[conlor]

I knew someone here was, but I couldn't remember who.

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by conlor

I knew someone here was, but I couldn't remember who.

I think Amy talked about these in a thread, Connie.

[se0sea]

what an inspiration to others coming out of this war.

[Betty Boop]

I'm sure that if we were to look, each participant would have his or her own inspiring story to tell - and as this young vet was one of the youngest and participants range up in age into their 50's and are of several generations of vets and military time periods. While we musn't forget our war dead nor should we ever discount or ignore our war disabled either.