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Rocky C
03-29-11, 01:32 PM
Veterans Tackle the Slopes at 25th Winter Sports Clinic


WASHINGTON (March 29, 2011)- This week, more than 300 Veterans will hit
the slopes at the 25th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic,
taking place this week in Snowmass Village, Colo., March 27 - April 1.
The clinic provides newly injured Veterans, and those from years past,
the opportunity to learn life changing skills through rehabilitative
winter sporting events.

"The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic challenges Veterans
to move beyond their personal comfort zones and answer 'What's
possible?'" said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "These
disabled Veterans inspire all of us both this week and the other 51
weeks of the year."

Vice President Joe Biden, in a surprise appearance, stopped by the
opening ceremony on Sunday to thank the Veterans for their service. He
also visited with Veterans and volunteers on Sunday and Monday.

The clinic is an annual rehabilitation program open to all U.S. military
Veterans with spinal cord injuries or disease, visual impairments,
certain neurological conditions, orthopedic amputations or other
disabilities, who receive care at any Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) health care facility.

Jointly sponsored by VA and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the
clinic is hosted each year by the Grand Junction, Colo., VA Medical
Center and VA's Rocky Mountain Network.

"The DAV is proud to partner with the VA to build on a quarter of a
century of successfully bettering the lives of disabled Veterans through
this clinic," said DAV National Commander Wallace E. Tyson. "For the
thousands of men and women who have accepted the challenges of this
mountainside, a new window has opened on the possibilities of life after
sickness and devastating injury."

During the six-day program, Veterans will learn adaptive Alpine and
Nordic skiing and be introduced to a variety of other adaptive
activities and sports, such as rock climbing, scuba diving,
trap-shooting and sled hockey.

In addition to learning valuable lessons at the clinic, these Veteran
athletes may become eligible to compete in some of the Nation's premiere
athletic events. Since 2005, VA has partnered with the U.S. Paralympics
to introduce participants at the Winter Sports Clinic to Paralympic
sports and to elite level training opportunities.

Fresh from his first place finish in the 2011 World Cup Championships
Super G event, Paralympian and past Winter Sports Clinic participant,
Chris Devlin-Young will be on hand to share his experience and
techniques with clinic participants, along with several other
Paralympians who started out at the Winter Sports Clinic.

To train these Veteran athletes and meet their unique needs, an
estimated 200 certified ski instructors for the disabled and several
current and former members of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team will serve as
instructors.

The clinic is an extension of the rehabilitative care Veterans receive
daily at VA medical centers across the country.


VA continues to be a recognized leader in rehabilitation, with
recreational therapy programs at each of its 152 hospitals allowing
disabled Veterans to challenge themselves both physically and
emotionally. DAV, which has co-sponsored the event since 1991, is a
nonprofit, congressionally chartered Veterans service organization, with
a membership of more than one million disabled Veterans.

USNAviator
03-29-11, 01:42 PM
Great story Rocky, very inspiring :thumbup:

FistFu68
03-29-11, 05:38 PM
:usmc: :thumbup: :iwo: