Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) Vice Adm. Mary M. Jackson visited Chicago April 4, to meet with local veteran and military service organizations at the Union League Club of Chicago to recognize the 90 day countdown to the 2017 Department of Defense (DoD) Warrior Games.
The reception allowed Chicago veteran and military organizational leaders and Navy leadership to connect and increase awareness about the upcoming Warrior Games, which are scheduled to take place in Chicago from June 30 - July 8.
"I'm excited to be here in Chicago with you all, on my first official trip as commander, Navy Installations Command, as we celebrate an important milestone in our journey to the 2017 DoD Warrior Games," said Jackson. "I know that you share the same passion for our military service members, veterans and their families, and we thank you so much for that. It's the reason we are all here tonight."
During the reception, Jackson, who recently assumed command as CNIC March 31, talked about how the Navy, the city of Chicago and key sponsors first came together to turn the Warrior Games from a possibility to a reality.
"As you may know, this is the first time that the Warrior Games will be held completely outside of a military installation or U.S. Olympic training center," said Jackson. "When the Navy began the search process for a host site almost two years ago, Chicago quickly rose to the top of the list. A passionate sports town that thrives on diversity, Chicago has been home to many world-class events, and it's an honor to be working with Mayor Emanuel's team to make the Warrior Games an unforgettable experience for our wounded warrior athletes and those who support them. Moving the games to Chicago means the opportunities are greater to make this a truly unforgettable event, and our sponsors are important partners to make this event bigger and better than ever before."
Representatives from Boeing, Pritzker Military Museum and Library, and Fisher House Foundation, all major sponsors of the Warrior Games, offered their enthusiasm for the Warrior Games during the event and encouraged all attendees to get involved, spread the word about the Warrior Games and to provide any support to the athletes that they can.
The Warrior Games were established in 2010 to provide an opportunity to injured service members and veterans to participate in adaptive sports, and as a way to enhance the recovery, rehabilitation, physical activity and morale of participating wounded warriors.
The Warrior Games will include competition in eight athletic events, including from each branch of the U.S. armed forces and Special Operations Command, archery, cycling, sitting volleyball, shooting, swimming, wheelchair basketball and track and field.
More than 250 wounded warriors are expected to attend this years games.
For more information about the 2017 DoD Warrior Games, visit the website at
www.dodwarriorgames.com.
For more information, visit
www.navy.mil,
www.facebook.com/usnavy, or
www.twitter.com/usnavy.
For more news from Commander, Navy Region Mid Atlantic, visit
www.navy.mil/.