Greetings all from Alaska, it's hard to believe that it’s been over a month since my last post. There have been a few interesting developments in my life. First and most importantly I left my job to pursue full time ski racing. That in of itself is super exciting.
First we are in Alyeska Resort, which is outside of Anchorage in the Turnagain Bay for US Adaptive National Championships. We arrive yesterday and this place is absolutely breath taking. Words just can’t describe the beauty nor the calm around here. Everyone in Alaska seems to march to the beat of a chilled out drum. It’s great, the lifts don’t even open until 10:30 am. The weather yesterday and today were clear and sunny. But since we are beginning racing we expect snow. HAHA
Second after Nationals, Joel Hunt and I are headed the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic for a couple of days to talk to some of our fellow Vets about ski racing and also to be the face of the up and coming Veteran ski racers.
Third from March 31st to April 3rd I have been invited to attend SkiTAM, which is a huge fundraiser for the US Adaptive Ski Team (USAST) as a guest of Time Warner Cable. This is quite an honor as it is usually reserved for team members of the USAST.
Finally, today I was contacted and invited to go to Landstuhl Germany in from April 16th-April 23rd to visit some of our recovering wounded Marines. This will be with some other retired Marines and up to four WWII veterans. Below is the operational order for this trip.
Connecting Generations: Operation Common Ground
A program of The Greatest Generations Foundation
Introduction: As more and more veterans of World War II pass away it is important to not only honor them for their sacrifices, but to preserve the legacies they established and the freedom they fought to defend. Nobody understands these concepts as well as the men and women of today’s military forces who continue to fight day after day to defend the same liberties defended by the World War II generation. However, as these men and women are engaged overseas, the list of casualties increases. As our Wounded Warriors recover from battlefield injuries in Military Hospitals abroad it is important to be encouraged, not only by letters from home and fellow service members, but by the heroes and role models of World War II who long ago fought, sacrificed, returned, and thrived.
Mission: To foster intergenerational relationships between our Heroes of yesterday and our present day Heroes returning from the battlefields of the Middle East. Such relationships will provide World War II veterans an opportunity to pass on their legacies and through example will mentor our young veterans with the skills needed to succeed in the civilian world. Through 65 years of experience the Greatest Generation Veterans are still in the fight setting the standard and helping our young heroes of today.
Objectives:
1) To provide World War II veterans with the opportunity to interact with and mentor Wounded Warriors recently engaged in combat in the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict.
2) To educate World War II vets and today’s Wounded Warriors veterans about the common ground they share through the traumatic effects of war.
3) To foster intergenerational relationships between veterans of different wars and to encourage today’s Wounded Warriors in their transition into civilian life.
4) To prevent modern‐day veterans from cultivating an entitlement mentality and encourage them to continue to contribute to society.
Measurement of Success: Success will be measured both by the amount of closure the World War II veterans gain through their interaction with Wounded Warriors, and by the effect the program has on Wounded Warriors and their increased determination to overcome their disabilities and lead successful lives.
Program Overview: A group of 8 veterans (4 World War II, 4 Wounded Warriors), 3 TGGF staff and 1 Marine DISC will depart from Denver and fly to Germany. The group will travel Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to visit wounded Marines and soldiers coming from Iraq and Afghanistan. The group will spend three days at the Military Treatment Facilities, one day meeting with local High school students and ROTC programs in the area. The last day will be reserved for a commemoration ceremony held at Belleau Wood, before returning to the United States.
I have been asked to be the athlete representative, as Marines are very big on physical fitness as most of you all know and what Adaptive Sports has given me is immeasurable in my emotional recovery. I am humbled, and honored to be able to attend this event. Hopefully I can educate these young men on life after injury and help to facilitate faster recovery.
I hope to update along the way with all of these events, but as you can see the next few weeks is going to be very busy for me. Right now I have to focus on having a successful week of ski racing here at Nationals.
Jon
