warrior games paY triBute to veteran sacrifices anD Best vaLues
Military & Veterans Affairs Committee
Chairs: Alexandra Srsic – Bay Area Legal Services, Inc. & David Veenstra - Hunter Law, P.A.
J
ust recently, we learned
that the Warrior Games
will be coming to Tampa
in 2019.
The Warrior Games is a Depart -
ment of Defense initiative that
allows injured, wounded, or disabled
veterans to compete in adaptive
and rigorous sports challenges.
About 250 veteran athletes
participate in the games annually.
I first became aware of the
Warrior Games thanks to a
remarkable American I now call
a friend, Mike Nicholson. Mike,
a Marine and son of Tampa,
competed in the Warrior Games in
Chicago in 2017 and was awarded
six gold medals for his vigor.
Mike’s story is one of
remarkable emotional and physical
challenge that speaks to what
makes the Warrior Games so great:
Mike sustained severe injuries
(including the loss of his legs and
left arm) due to an IED explosion
in Afghanistan.
I have had the honor of working
with this remarkable American to
make our local community aware
of the benefit of having these
games here. The benefit of having
the Warrior Games here comes
down to three points.
First, Tampa has the physical
muscle to host this effort. In 2017,
the Warrior Games in Chicago
was a national event hosted by Jon
Stewart with 50,000 attendees.
52
from oppression
Tampa is a city
but freedom
that is gaining its
from combat.
wings and can
What does the
host this effort.
trauma of the
Second, Tampa
soldier who returns
has the heart to
missing limbs cost
host this effort.
me? How do I bear
In Hillsborough
in a time when we
the burden of the
County, we have
are too divided by
military spouse
nearly 100,000
who sheds tears
veterans. We
labels like republican
when they miss
are home to
or Democrat, this is
the touch of their
numerous
an
effort
that
brings
husband or wife
outstanding
who is deployed?
veteran
us together as we
How do my
institutions,
should be:
everyday actions
as well as three
pay tribute to the
Medal of Honor
as americans.
parent who knows
recipients.
that their child is
Third, holding
deployed overseas or
the Games here
who mourns the loss of their child?
would mean a lot to Tampa. Since
The Warrior Games is an effort
September 11, 2001, we’ve had
that begins to not only connect us
constant conflict — all sustained
to this reality, which so many of
by our military families. This small
us are unconnected to, but puts
part of the population has borne
in front of us the costs of war
100 percent of the burden of our
and military service. We need this
post-September 11th costs.
reality in front of our eyes —
And while these patriot families
and in our hearts — always.
proudly bear this cost, it is a
I am proud that a son of Tampa,
burden that has little effect on our
Mike Nicholson, put his heart on
day-to-day lives (including mine).
the line in the Warrior Games and
I am reminded of a friend who
can, in 2019, help welcome his
is a first responder and proud
fellow Wounded Warriors right
United States Marine, who has
here to my hometown, Tampa.
sons who are all Marines. His
In a time when we are too
youngest Marine son — who was
divided by labels like Republican
about two years old on September
or Democrat, this is an effort that
11, 2001 — was recently sent to
brings us together as we should be:
Paris Island for boot camp and
As Americans.
will soon be sent to the Middle
East for combat. This young man
— who was probably watching
Thomas the Train on September
11, 2001 — today will fight in
Author:
our post-September 11 conflicts.
Luis E. Viera –
Years and soon decades follow
Banker Lopez
September 11th, and yet most of
Gassler P.A. &
our lives go untouched. We enjoy
City of Tampa
our freedom — not only freedom
Councilman
M AY - J U N E 2 0 1 8
|
HCBA LAWYER