The Wounded Warrior Project – Up Close and Personal 11Jan15

On Wednesday, the Warriors arrived in the Keys for their bike fittings and spent most of the week visiting tourist attractions, meeting school children and enjoying meals with various supporting organizations. Saturday they played tourist in Key West – fishing, snorkeling, and riding the Old Town Trolley.

This morning they arrived here at Boca Chica Field for breakfast and to begin their 8 mile Soldier Ride into Key West.  We rode out from the marina to stand on the roadside and cheer them on.

Wow!

With military precision, two F-5s screeched overhead at 0930 to start the ride. As the warriors rode by we waved our flag and thanked them for their service.

And then it happened. They thanked us!    And began to salute.    Us.

Since Sept 2001 we have been at war; the longest war in our country’s history. But it’s different from our other wars. Many of us at home barely realize we are at war. Our lives have not changed. We have not had to pay a War Tax, deal with rationing, buy war bonds, or plant a victory garden. No changes to our day-to-day lives.

These men and women are amazing. They sacrificed for us.

The Wounded Warrior Project motto, “The greatest casualty is being forgotten,” sums up the day and the ride. We cannot forget.

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/soldier-ride.aspx