Photos courtesy of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

            The 27th Annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games were held this year in Milwaukee, Wis., June 19 – 23. With the Wisconsin Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Milwaukee VA Medical Center acting as hosts, over 500 athletes competed in 17 medal sports and participated in two exhibition sports.

This year’s medal events consisted of competition in air guns, archery, basketball, bowling, track and field, hand cycling, motor rally, nine ball, power chair relay, power soccer, quad rugby, slalom and super G, softball, swimming, table tennis and weightlifting. Events allowed athletes to compete at their level of classification of disability and level of experience.

This year also provided three non-competitive opportunities. A standing track and field clinic for amputees, led by John Register, associate director of the U.S. Olympic Committee, was held on Wednesday, June 20.

With Milwaukee being the home of the Pettit National Ice Center, a U. S. Olympic Training facility, the Games had a chance to showcase a relatively new sport in the Paralympics – Wheelchair Curling. On Saturday, June 23, over 40 enthusiastic athletes followed the lead of U.S. Paralympic curlers, including Jimmy Joseph, in delivering a stone the length of the curling surface.

“Curling is a sport that takes more brains and finesse than brawn, so it is open to anyone,” said USA Wheelchair Curling Development Director Steve Brown. “It is a lifelong sport, and women can compete as well as men. What’s best is that it’s everyone’s chance to participate in an Olympic sport.”

Trapshooting was also an exhibition sport. The Amateur Trapshooting Association provided one-on-one instruction for the exhibition that was held at Boxhorn Gun Club in Muskego, Wis.

Friday was the highlight of the Games for many, featuring both Kids Day and the Block Party. This year, Kids Day, which gives the athletes a chance to mentor young people in wheelchairs from the local community, took place at the Milwaukee County Zoo. With 28 youngsters attending, the impression of a positive attitude was apparent when the kids participated in slalom, T-ball and relay races.

Roy Heathcoat, 42, an Army veteran from Franklin, Wis., particularly enjoyed Kids Day. “I looked for kids who needed a little boost and challenged them to beat my time in the slalom. My motivation is to see the smiles and joy on the children’s faces.” 

Friday evening, retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Dana Bowman, a former Golden Knight, gave the crowd a thrill when he parachuted into the Block Party held at the Milwaukee Lakefront. Bowman, a bi-lateral amputee, signed autographs and provided a motivational presence for young and old.

His fellow competitors selected Joe Velasquez, 58, a U.S. Navy veteran from Turlock, Calif., as the 2007 Spirit of the Games winner, given to an athlete who exemplifies what the Games represent. Velasquez competed in the maximum of five events; winning four gold medals and served as VFW National Chairman of the National Veterans Golden Age Games.

“The Games saved me,” he recalled. “At my first Games, it was testimonial time. I was depressed from my injury and I left those first Games a new person with a new extended family. I accepted my injury then. This was my new life – there was nothing negative about it anymore. The Games are the best form of rehabilitation for everyone involved, whether it’s the athletes, volunteers or the fans in the stands, because with these Games, everybody wins.”

The Games were first held in Richmond, Va., and had just over 100 participants. Over the years, the Games have been held in such diverse spots as Anchorage, Alaska and Puerto Rico. No matter where they take place – in addition to the competition – camaraderie is a uniting factor for the athletes.

“When you come home from Iraq, you feel a loss because you lack the camaraderie you once felt with your company,” said Alan Lewis, who competed in his fourth Games. “When I’m at (these events), even though these men and women aren’t necessarily the ones I fought with, I still feel that sense of camaraderie among veterans who can relate to my situation. I love to hang out with them.”

For more information, visit www.wheelchairgames.com.

Pattie Cox is a Mequon, Wis.-based writer covering issues of interest to people with disabilities.