Veterans Olympic Day Event
Veterans and ERAU students at the Veterans Olympic Day Event, October 2017
Veterans Olympic Day Event
For the last four years, Northern Arizona VA Health Care System (NAVAHCS) has been working with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) to host the Annual Veterans Olympic Day Event at the Sports Court at the Bob Stump VA Medical Center.
Each year the event brings more and more Veterans together for a day of food, music, fun and sports. There is basketball, racket ball, volley ball, pickle ball and dodge ball. Live music is performed during the event and the food is provided by ERAU.
The Veterans, friends, family members, volunteers and staff have a blast and it wouldn’t be possible without the help and support of our community partners; Team Red, White, Blue (RWB), The Marine Corps League (MCL) and of course ERAU. Each year we come together and remind our Veterans that they are not alone.
The MCL worked feverishly to raise money to build the Veterans Sports Court at NAVAHCS and it was completed in 2014. The sculptor is Clyde “Ross” Morgan, a Marine Corps Veteran who offered to create a larger than life-sized bronze sculpture to stand at the entrance to the sports court. The sculpture, entitled “Heroic Challenges” depicts a Veteran with one prosthetic leg crossing the finish line of a foot race as the winner. The message of the statue is that despite debilitating injuries, one can still achieve success through athletic participation and determination.
The statue is of Marine Corps Veteran Alex Minsky. When Alex was injured in Afghanistan, he had his right leg amputated, a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and was in a coma. His recovery was slow and he had to face many challenges like learning how to talk, think and function again. Like many of our military, he did not accept his new life right away. He turned to alcohol and fell into a state of depression.
He began working out at the gym and he focused on his daily exercise regiment and he started to realize that he could turn things around. It was suggested to him that he should model and that is where his new career began. He is now well known and he offers inspiration to others who are faced with similar challenges.
The Arizona Military Order of Devil Dogs Charities recognized a critical need at the medical center for a multi-purpose outdoor recreational facility to support the treatment and rehabilitation of Veterans. Many of the Veterans at the medical center are suffering not only physical ailments, but also mental issues such as depression, anger and post-traumatic stress disorder. The benefit of physical exercise in a sports environment can help improve these conditions. Veterans have great personal pride and doing things they no longer thought possible (such as playing basketball or tennis in a wheelchair) would enhance their confidence and self-esteem and elevate their dignity and sense of well-being.
The basketball nets on the court can be lowered to accommodate wheelchair Veterans and give them an opportunity to participate in sports activities as well. NAVAHCS is happy to serve those who served and is grateful for all of the community support that is available. Thank you to all of our Veterans for their service and for allowing us to care for them at our medical center.
