Pentagon Welcomes Athletes in Uniform

Returning Veterans and Athletes Compare Stories

Washington, D.C. -- Athletes recently returned from the 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games were welcomed on a tour of the Pentagon today by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and the Department of Defense (D.O.D.).  

The visit provided an opportunity for the Paralympic Division of the U.S. Olympic Committee to formally thank the government office for a high level of involvement and support it provided to Team USA throughout the Beijing Paralympic Games.

And with 16 Paralympic military personnel competing in China as a result of D.O.D. backed programs for athletes with physical disabilities, it was an opportunity to offer gratitude for making their dreams come true.

"There is a long history of involvement of the military in the Olympic and Paralympic movement," said Charlie Huebner, Chief of Paralympics.  "The reason the Paralympics exist today is because a group of injured veterans from World War II started the movement as a means of using sport as rehabilitation after World War II."

The rich history of military Olympic support dates back to General Douglas MacArthur, who presided over the body when it was the American Olympic Association, known today as the U.S. Olympic Committee.

"He had a great belief in the importance of sports," said Huebner.

Today, that relationship continues as the D.O.D. works closely with U.S. Paralympics to develop community based sport programs nationwide for injured service men and women looking to rehabilitate their injuries and their lives through sport. 

It is the goal of the partnership to have 250 community based programs in the United States by 2012. 

"Our long term concern for the veterans and anybody in the Armed Forces is that there will be programs for them in their local communities when they return home," said Huebner.  "The Department of Defense has provided a grant to help us develop those programs at military medical centers and facilities around the country, which is allowing us to significantly increase our support for Armed Forces and veterans."

In addition to the partnership to develop local community sport programs, the D.O.D. has provided logistical support. The D.O.D. hosted a pre-Games training camp for the Paralympic track & field and swimming teams at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan prior to traveling to Beijing.

"For the first time in our history the Department of Defense provided transportation and the facilities at the Kadena Air Force Base to our two biggest teams, track & field and swimming, allowing the athletes to acclimate in Asia for ten days before their competition began," said Huebner.

"It was just a phenomenal opportunity for our athletes that they've never had before, and the results speak for themselves.  Swimming was number one in the world and track was number two in the world - a significant improvement over 2004."

Now returned from China, the athletes took advantage of the opportunity in the Pentagon to share their experiences with the staff and military personnel, and to tell them how much the D.O.D. support enabled them as athletes to compete on a world stage.

Secretary Gates met personally with the athletes, where he congratulated them on their achievements and presented each with a medal from the D.O.D.

He was thanked on behalf of all athletes by Melissa Stockwell, a Paralympic swimmer, Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient.  In April 2004, Stockwell was traveling in a routine convoy in Baghdad, Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded.  The blast resulted in a left leg amputation above the knee for Stockwell, and ultimately, through life's wondrous course, a trip to China as a Paralympian.

Stockwell told the Secretary that she was honored by the privilege of wearing the uniform twice for the United States of America, first as a servicewoman in Iraq defending her country, and then as a Paralympian competing for her country.

"I know I speak for all of us when I say that sport has played a huge roll in getting us back into life and into the game," said Stockwell.

Army specialist and Olympic gold medalist (shooting) Vincent Hancock addressed the Secretary, "It is an honor to represent my country as a serviceman and as an elite athlete. I would also like to thank the non-commissioned officers of the Army.  If it wasn't for a few good NCO's, I wouldn't be able to be standing here with a gold medal hung around my neck."

Secretary Gates addressed the athletes, telling them, "You have represented your country with great honor," he said.  "And to our Paralympians, you are role models for all of our wounded soldiers, marines and sailors.  What you represent to them is that there is a future, and you have a huge impact on their morale."

In addition to meeting with the Secretary, the athletes were treated to a meandering tour of the Pentagon.  Stops included the Hall of Heroes which recognizes all valor medal winners since the Civil War, a hallway dedicated to the six decades of military service by the five-star General MacArthur, and the newly finished September 11 Memorial at the exact crash site of American Airlines flight 77.

With many tours of duty among them, and not so far removed from the memorable day in our nation's history seven years ago, the military veteran athletes spent a long pensive moment in the recently finished September 11 Memorial wing. 

Paralympic Cyclist Oscar "Oz" Sanchez was moved to have his picture taken alongside a memorial painting of Sgt. Edward Smith that hung on a wall dedicated to the soldiers lost since September 11.  

"He was my first platoon sergeant," Sanchez said.

Finally, the athletes were able to congregate in the Department of Defense press briefing room and thank D.O.D. personnel for continuing their work and their support of injured military personnel reviving their life through sport.

The visit clearly demonstrated that the strong partnership between U.S. Paralympics and the Department of Defense has opened a door to helping injured military personnel find their own inspiring moments and amazing opportunities from life-changing events. 

On any sports team, goals can only be achieved by the teamwork and the unique contributions of each individual.  No different is the mission of U.S. Paralympics and the D.O.D. to achieve their goal of providing sports programs for physically disabled individuals in 250 American communities by 2012.  It can be realized by hard-working people believing in each other and in themselves to make it happen. 

On a day that proved amazing awaits in the hearts of those who believe in themselves, Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Scott Winkler said, "My motto is this: if you believe, you can achieve."

To find out more about the Wounded Warriors program and local community sport programs for anyone with a physical disability, visit www.USParalympics.org.