Hundreds of military and family members cheered on the south lawn of the Whitehouse during the 7th annual “White House to Lighthouse” ride, April 29.
Wounded warriors approached their bicycles to begin their three-day, 72-mile trek to the Thomas Point lighthouse in Chesapeake Bay, Md., as a part of a rehabilitation cycling program for combat-wounded veterans. The program is one of the steps in their return to an active lifestyle.
“I think it’s an opportunity for wounded warriors to see we still care for them and we are here to support them as they make transitions,” Master Sgt. Thomas Draffen, a traffic controller at naval flight information group and member of the Four Mil cycling team. “For them to take cycling, a passion that we have, and use it as a rehabilitative method to get back into a normal lifestyle is a great thing.”
A large part of the rehabilitation process is overcoming the adversity presented by having a disability.
“It’s incredibly inspirational to see all of these wounded warriors do this ride despite having, what some would consider, physical disadvantages,” said Draffen. “One of our team members is a wounded warrior who rides as an amputee; to see people like that, doing everything that we do with limitations that we don’t,
brings me to phenomenal realizations. One, how lucky I am and; two, how much more we should support them.”
For many of the wounded warriors, participating in events like this one is about giving back.
“It’s great to be riding with the wounded warrior project, when I was injured they helped me out and gave me a lot,” said Army Master Sgt. Dean Wagner, who lost a quarter of his arm in combat and also rides with the Four Mil team. “This is just my way of giving back by helping them raise enough money to help someone else.”
For some, giving back extends far beyond this 72-mile venture. It is important to be involved often to support other service members.
“I think it’s very important to give back to the organization as much as I can,” said Wagner. “I go into the hospital to talk to service members often, and I can see the way it helps them. It’s important to stay connected and help where you can.”
Wagner believes that being wounded is not an excuse to not be active, and he wants to influence those who are to find ways to maintain healthy and positive outlooks.
“Being wounded doesn’t always mean you’re disabled. There are still many things that you can do and cycling is one of them,” said Wagner. “It’s a good way to get men and women involved and back into a level of physical fitness while being something that just about everyone can do.”
Some of the riders attached flags to their bikes in the spirit of patriotism and pride.
“Right now we are in the position to enjoy the dreams that the United States while others are deployed,” said Marine Capt. Kyle Pitman, communications officer and company officer at the U.S. Naval Academy. “This is the least we could do to give back a little bit and assist the Wounded Warrior Project.”
This is an opportunity to take the challenge of raising awareness as well as raise money for the wounded warrior program; to be able to combine both of those is a once in a life-time thing for some of these riders, said Draffen.
Draffen continued, “This is an effort that I am not only proud of, but privileged, to be a part of.”
For volunteers, attending this bike ride is about camaraderie and being there for fellow service members.
“Marines from Quantico are here to give these wounded warriors the moral support they need to complete this mission,” said Sgt. Angel Beltre, a radio operator stationed here.
Sgt. Jasmine Colon, also a radio operator at Quantico said, “service members in general need to support the wounded warrior project because we’ve lost a lot of people out there. It’s important to show those who have survived combat that we are all family and still here to support them.”
- Correspondent: christopher.duncan2@usmc.mil