Friday's Photo

A picture is worth a thousand words.

A wounded service member enjoys his golf game at the annual Scarlet & Gold Golf Tournament

Ringing the NASDAQ Bell and Ringing in the New Year

On December 28, Hope For The Warriors® was given the honor of ringing the NASDAQ Stock Market closing bell, symbolizing the close of the trading floor. Hope For The Warriors® staff, board members, service members, and military families attended. 

And as if that was not exciting enough, as part of the event, the Hope For The Warriors® logo was displayed on the Times Square jumbo screen-a privilege that would normally come with a hefty price tag. The logo was displayed for an hour, during the busiest tourist week of the year.   

One of the service members who attended was wounded soldier Master Sgt. Kevin Walker, USA (Ret.).  Kevin and his family were in New York City as part of the Hope For The Warriors® Hope & Morale program. Kevin’s story is all too common, as he was injured in Iraq when his Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb. Since his injury, this Jefferson City, MO native and his family have overcome astounding trials and tribulations through his physical and emotional rehabilitation.

Kevin was given the honor of ringing the closing bell at the NASDAQ closing ceremony.  This was an amazing experience that he will never forget.  Read the News Story here.

A huge thank you goes to Christopher Page.  Chris is a Vice President at Citi Group and works as the Citi Military Programs Manager.  Chris is also on our Advisory Council and an avid volunteer and supporter of our organization.

Ringing In the New Year

On December 31, 2011, several families joined Hope For The Warriors® to ring in the New Year in Times Square.  For many, this was a once in a lifetime experience and we were proud to host these heroes and their families.

Year In Pictures - Jump into 2012

Photo Courtesy of Paul Oberle

And here we are in 2012!  To our military families, supporters, sponsors and volunteers, Hope For The Warriors® thanks you for your support and for your dedication to our nation's service members and their families.  In 2012, we will continue to work hard, ensuring that we meet our mission of "no sacrifice forgotten, nor need unmet."

Hope For The Warriors® staff members are energetic and highly-dedicated to each of our military families.  I feel fortunate that I work for an organization that makes family a priority--whether it is the military families we support or our own families. 

And as you can see from the photo above, we have a lot of fun working together.

Happy New Year to all!

Year In Pictures - Heroes are Welcomed Home

Photo courtesy of Petty Officer John Jacobs, USCG

This photo was taken at this year's Run For The Warriors® in Jacksonville, NC.  I love that this family is running together, supporting our wounded service members and military families.  This year, the kids come along for the ride.  One day, they will join in the fun and run the race themselves.

The Run For The Warriors® was created first and foremost as a means to welcome home wounded service members and honor them for their service and sacrifice. For those of you without a military background, I need to share the excitement of a typical Homecoming. 

When a battalion returns from a deployment, family and friends gather on a large, open field on the military base.  The field is filled with children, parents, husbands and wives.  Bounce houses are set up to keep the kids occupied as the frazzled parents wait.  Music plays, food is served and the cameras are ready.  It might be early morning, afternoon, evening or the middle of the night.  When the service members arrive in their buses, each family member and service member frantically searches the crowd for their loved ones. There are hundreds of people greeting each other, hugging, kissing and crying.

Now imagine the “homecoming” of a wounded service member.  They are pulled out of a battle field and transported to a series of bases until they arrive at a medical facility.  No music plays, no food is served and certainly, no one is waving with excitement.  The only cameras clicking are MRI and x-ray machines.  Fear replaces the excitement.

In 2006, a group of Marine wives held the first Run For The Warriors® at Camp Lejeune to change all of that.  The event opened with a ceremony to honor a group of wounded Marines and to give them the Homecoming they deserved.  That particular day, it was cold and rainy. However, thousands of runners and family members did not care.  They clapped, cheered, cried and celebrated their wounded heroes that morning.  

Each year, this race continues with more and more people who attend to race, participate and honor.  And true to its beginning, the race always begins with a ceremony to welcome our heroes home.

To learn more, visit our Run web page.

Year In Pictures - Rebuilding Ground Zero

When we reflect on the events of 9/11, so often we focus on the people who worked in those buildings and their families.  Within our organization, we reflect on the impact of 9/11 on our military men and women.  However, how many people think about the workers who had to clean up after this tragedy and rebuild?


The Ground Zero Independence Ride was created in 2002 as a means of healing for the many workers who were tasked with clearing debris left from 9/11.  The ride is planned and organized with the support of unions throughout the New York metropolitan area.


In keeping with the goals for this ride, funds raised are always donated to nonprofits that focus on strengthening families.  Hope For The Warriors® has been proud to be involved with this event for the last two years.


In this photo, you see the start of the Ground Zero Independence Ride.  You can also see in the background the construction equipment that is being used to rebuild the area.  This photo has more "clutter" in it than many of the other photos that I have posted and that is precisely why I love it.  Although the area around Ground Zero is busy and congested, the absence of the towers has left a hole in the city.  Many of the people you see on these motorcycles are the men responsible for rebuilding the towers.  With this ride, they also intend to mend families.

Year In Pictures - Texas Size Weekend

Photo provided courtesy of Richard Hall Photography

Every year in the beginning of October, I make the short drive to Tyler, TX for the Texas Wounded Warrior Celebrity Pro-Am Weekend.  This event, held by the nonprofit group, Texas Wounded Warrior, honors wounded service members for their service and sacrifice.  It also introduces many of these service members to the therapeutic game of golf. 


The weekend begins with the Military Flyover on Saturday afternoon and as this photo shows, it is nothing short of spectacular.  A Gala follows the air show and then on Sunday and Monday, the guys hone their skills in the game of golf.  


Each year, this events seems to get bigger and better.  I can't wait for 2012!

Year In Pictures - Hope Women--Mothers to the World

George W. Bush at the Warrior Open

This photo is not the best quality but I love the moment it captured.  This October, Hope For The Warriors® was invited to the Warrior Open, a golf tournament for wounded warriors, hosted by former President George W. Bush.  We were one of only four nonprofit organizations highlighted at this event.  It was amazing!


There were several service members competing in this event that we have worked with in the past including the young man to the right of Bush.  That is Nick Bradley and he has attended two golfing events with Hope For The Warriors®.


And why does Nick have that half-amused, half-surprised look on his face?  In this photo, you see Bush with the two warriors who are about to tee-off.  There are thousands of people watching, news camera, reporters, secret service and more.  None of this stopped Robin, Peggy and myself from yelling out to Nick, "Get closer to the president, we're taking your picture!"  Then we got the other warrior's attention.  And oh yeah, Bush's attention too.  And we actually made them stop and look our way, so that we could get a photo of our Nick, next to the president.


He was embarrassed at the time but someday, he will thank us!