We recently (about one month ago) covered the second Invictus Games, held this year in Orlando, Florida.
As mentioned here, the Games — the brainchild of Britain’s Prince Harry — hosted more than 500 wounded, ill and injured service members from 14 nations around the world in an event meant to “inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their countries.”
Since 2010, the Department of Defense has organized and hosted a set of similar Games where wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans compete in shooting, archery, cycling, track and field, swimming, sitting volleyball, and wheelchair basketball: The Warrior Games.
Read about last year’s Warrior Games here.
This year, the Warrior Games were held June 15-21 at the West Point Military Academy.
About 250 athletes representing teams from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, U.S. Special Operations Command and the United Kingdom armed forces participated after earning their places at the Games by competing against a field of 2,000 to 3,000 other athletes at regional and service-level trials in the various sports.
Army team members celebrate their gold medal win over the Marines in wheelchair basketball during the 2016 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., June 21, 2016. DoD photo by Roger Wollenberg
Again, many records were broken, many medals were won, but — most important — many dreams were realized.
In the words of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Mille, “This is a tough competition…A lot of people don’t realize what this competition means. First of all, you had to walk the hallowed grounds of the battlefield or you had to get injured or sick in the service of your nation. That alone makes you the best of the best.”
Gen Mille:
They had to meet Paralympic standards. The coaches, the staff, the referees were all professionals and former Paralympians. The standards were high. This is a tough competition…There’s not an athlete on this field who got there by themselves. They got there because of their families, their caregivers, their medical professionals, their coaches, their friends and countless others. You’re a tremendously inspiring group of people.
Above, Army Capt. Kelly Elminger lights the 2016 DOD Warrior Games torch during opening ceremonies for the games, June 15, 2016. (Department of Defense photo/EJ Hersom)
Below, a soldier watches the Lt. Dan Band perform at Trophy Point overlooking the Hudson River during the closing ceremony for the 2016 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., June 21, 2016. DoD photo by EJ Hersom)
Please watch the following two videos representing typical stories of some of these Wounded Warriors.
The first one is about SSgt Vincent Cavazos, Active Duty, Security Forces.
His “bio” says:
• Hometown: Fresno, California
• Current Location: Crofton, Maryland
• Injury or Illness: Right Broken Femur, Right Broken Patella, Left Broken Tibula/Fibula, Three Broken Ribs, TBI, Mild PTSD
• Event Participation: Shooting, Archery, Field (Possible Swimming & Track)
To the question “How did your Service’s Wounded Warrior Program (Warrior Transition Unit, Wounded Warrior Regiment, Other Service Wounded Warrior Unit) assigned or previously assigned to enhance your recovery,” his answer:
Helped understand what a wounded warrior is. To be able to open up with my situation. To be able to feel accepted and to be comfortable around people. To be able to feel normal and that I am normal. No matter what I’ve been through there is nothing wrong with me. To give me hope. The feeling to have this huge family.
The second one is about SSgt Sebastiana Lopez-Arellano, Active Duty, C-17 Crew Chief.
Her “bio” says:
• Hometown: San Bernardino, California
• Current Location: Joint Base Andrews, Maryland
• Injury or Illness: Right leg amputation, severe nerve damage in both hands
• Event Participation: Track, Field, Swimming, Cycling and Shooting
In answer to the question, “What is the significance of sports/competition? How has it helped you? What does it mean to you,” Lopez-Arellano answered:
The significance of the sports is the simple fact that I can do them again. That’s huge. With the adaptive equipment they allow us to be competitive. The significance of the competition is, I’ve always had a competitive nature and I lost that when I got hurt. Now that they are allowing me to be competitive again it brings back a part of me that I lost a few years ago. Sports competitions are in my DNA. It’s what drives me. It helps me get up every morning and kick ass.
Lead photo: Warriors Watching- Seated from left, athletes Ryan Major, Matthew Lammers, Stefan LeRoy, all Army veterans; Army 1st Lt. Chris Parks; and veteran Ana Manciaz watch a swimming event during the 2016 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., June 20, 2016. DoD photo by Roger Wollenberg
Edited to add photograph.
