Injured Veterans Soar with Wounded Warrior Project
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Sept. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Warriors recently teamed with United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) officers to soar across the sky in gliders as part of a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) event.
"This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to soar like an eagle," said Marine Corps Reserve veteran Lisa Dominguez. "As I climbed into the glider for the first time, I realized I was in the front seat with no engine and that I was really going to do this."
Warriors learned flying skills in the morning and flew on their own that afternoon.
"I love to try new things and have always wanted to fly," said Army veteran Donald Maloy. "We all marveled at the perspective you get from flying around at 12,000 to 13,000 feet. I loved getting acquainted with the area west of here. I never knew that the terrain changed so dramatically at the ridge of the mountains."
The 2017 WWP Annual Warrior Survey (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/survey) highlights the importance of opportunities for connection at WWP outreach events, which support the long-term recovery of warriors in environments that accommodate physical injuries and social anxieties.
"There were a variety of military branches represented in the glider class," Donald said. "Everyone seemed to have similar military stories, and they all liked connecting with other warriors."
WWP connects warriors with one another, their families, and communities. It serves warriors through lifesaving programs and services targeting mental and physical health, career and benefits counseling, and support for the most severely wounded.
"Wounded Warrior Project seems to have a way of connecting veterans in healthy and positive ways," Donald said. "They offer connection, support, family bonding, partnership, and friendship — just to name a few things."
WWP has been connecting, serving, and empowering wounded warriors for 15 years. To learn more, visit http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org.
About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers – helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more: http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us.
SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project