Saturday, October 31, 2009
This Doesn't Define Me
There are many kinds of courage.
We hear most about the bravery of battle, when the adrenaline is pumping and soldiers are fighting just to stay alive. But we rarely hear about the incredible courage and strength needed to sit up for the first time despite searing pain, to stand, to take those few wobbly steps...
... or, against all odds, to run again.
Meet some wounded vets who have not only recovered from severe combat injuries, but who have gone on to things most of us only dream of doing. In today's culture of victimization and excuses for failure, these stories are a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit; in our ability to overcome adversity.
This is America: not a nation of whiners but a nation of winners:
Words to live by.
We hear most about the bravery of battle, when the adrenaline is pumping and soldiers are fighting just to stay alive. But we rarely hear about the incredible courage and strength needed to sit up for the first time despite searing pain, to stand, to take those few wobbly steps...
... or, against all odds, to run again.
Meet some wounded vets who have not only recovered from severe combat injuries, but who have gone on to things most of us only dream of doing. In today's culture of victimization and excuses for failure, these stories are a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit; in our ability to overcome adversity.
This is America: not a nation of whiners but a nation of winners:
I've been wakeboarding, water-skiing, jet-skiing, tubing, rock climbing, snow skiing, playing catch with my brother. I try to do the same things. I'm not going to let it stop me. We did a 110-mile bike ride from Gettysburg to Washington, D. C. Sixty miles the first day, fifty miles the second day. Hand cycle, three wheels. I ended up ripping the glove, breaking the hand, breaking the whole socket. I might do it a little differently, but I'm still going to do it...
... This doesn't define me. It may be how I look on the outside, but it's not who I am. I guess you could remember me easily as being a triple amputee, but it's not who I am, has nothing to do with who I am. I've always been the same person.
Words to live by.
3 Comments:
By 
, at
Sat Oct 31, 05:51:00 PM:
God this site took a weird turn, WTF
By 
Cassandra, at
Sat Oct 31, 05:58:00 PM:
It's called war.
Stay classy, "Anonymous".
By Don Cox, at
Sun Nov 01, 12:37:00 PM:
Some of these wounded veterans deserve medals for what they have done since coming home, as well as for what they did in combat. Very impressive.
