Announcements
Dave Tostenrude Director, NVWG
202-632-7135
Jordan Schupbach Public Affairs Coordinator
202-664-3733
Jeanene LeSure Local Host Coordinator, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital
813-972-2000 ext 3822
Tom Brown PVA Sports Consultant
817-673-2812
Mary Hobbs Sports and Recreation Program
800-424-8200, ext. 752
Mark Daley Media Contact, Paralyzed Veterans Communications
202-379-8318
2012
Spirit of the Games - As a young boy growing up in rural Wisconsin, Phillip Rosenberg, 62, was surrounded by heroes. His father and three uncles had served in World War II. One uncle was shot down over the English Channel. His father fought in the Battle of the Bulge. (7/2/2012)
Wheelchair Unbound: Overcoming Life’s smallest challenges - Ever stub your toe on an uneven sidewalk or slam your knuckles on a door too narrow? How about walking uphill on terrain in loose gravel? Frustrating, annoying and aggravating. Yes, all of that. Now try doing it everyday in a wheelchair. Since 2003, Veteran Pete Moore from Boston, Mass., has been navigating through life’s most commonplace challenges with zeal. (6/30/2012)
Kids Day with Sarah and Holly - Sarah Brandle of Johnstown, PA competed in her First NVWG Kids Day in Pittsburgh last year and was very excited to compete again in Richmond. Unlike most of her competitors, Sarah, who has hemi hypertrophy, a condition in which one side of the body is larger than the other, only uses her wheelchair to compete in sports. (6/28/2012)
Volunteer Peg Holliday - Peg Holliday remembers every minute detail from those first wheelchair games in Richmond. The way she grins as she easily recalls thrills of greeting Veterans at the door to her VA 9-passenger bus and exciting moments of whisking them to their venues for competition is simply infectious. (6/28/2012)
Kid’s Day Mentoring: Sharing Knowledge - In Greek mythology, Mentor was placed in charge of Odysseus’ son Telemachus when Odysseus went off to fight the Trojan War. Because of this ancient relationship with Telemachus, the term ‘mentor’ has been adopted in English as a term meaning someone who imparts wisdom and shares knowledge with a less experienced colleague. (6/27/2012)
Starting Over - Michael Kabat, 61, a decorated Vietnam Veteran from Onalaska, Wi. is a people person. As a plumbing equipment salesman, he traveled throughout western Wisconsin, often stopping just to say hello to his customers or the local clerk at a convenience store. If there was something special in their life, a birthday or anniversary, he remembered it, just to make them feel special. (6/26/2012)
Top Performer - Eugene Tatom, a 68 year-old Marine Corps Veteran from Philadelphia, is the model of preparation. He has been participating in organized wheelchair sports since 1969 and joined the Philly Phever National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) team in 2005. Tatom keeps a solid workout regiment throughout the year to be a top performer each year at the Games. (6/26/2012)
Shipping Specialty Equipment - We have had little to no response from teams regarding special shipping of sports equipment such as handcycles, basketball chairs, etc. As such, UPS will not be providing special shipping of the specialty equipment. If you are planning to ship the equipment in advance, you will have to ship the equipment to Shepard Exposition Services. (6/11/2012)
Kids Day - Each year, our Veteran athletes take the opportunity to mentor disabled children from the local community and to show them that “disability” does not need to equal “disadvantage”. (3/14/2012)
#NVWG... What is it? - There’s a new way to keep in touch with information about the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and it’s called a hashtag. It allows you to post your own photos, videos, stories and experiences about the Wheelchair Games on Twitter! (2/13/2012)
2011
Welcome to Richmond - Virginia is often known as the state for lovers. That is, lovers of beautiful art, nature, shopping, delicious cuisine, sports and much more! Richmond, the capital city, will place you at the heart of the excitement that Virginia has to offer and is the perfect place for the 32nd National Veterans Wheelchair Games. (8/6/2011)
2011 Spirit of the Games Winner - Jerry "Bull" Baylor did everything right on the motorcycle that day in 1980. The Marine Veteran was wearing a helmet and looked both ways before the light turned green. He was only going five miles per hour when he was hit by a car with faulty brakes. (8/6/2011)
Just Call Him Coach - Some things are just meant to be. For Paul Welty, a teacher at Shaler Area Middle School in Glenshaw, Pa., one such thing was volunteering for the Games—a decision that unexpectedly catapulted him from volunteer to coach. (8/5/2011)
Celebrating a Legendary Week - We are pleased to welcome Dr. Robert A. Petzel, the VA’s undersecretary for health, and Bill Lawson, national president of Paralyzed Veterans of America, who will address athletes and other guests this evening. (8/5/2011)
2011 Rosenberg Award - Tony Johnson was ready to give up on life when his leg was amputated after an accident a few years ago. (8/5/2011)
A Boost for Paralympic Sports - Veterans will have more opportunities to test and hone their physical prowess thanks to two new grants the Department of Veterans Affairs awarded this year to the U.S. Olympic Committee. (8/5/2011)
Dynamic Duos - Heroes forge special bonds on and off the playing field. (8/4/2011)
Frequent Flyer - Four thousand six hundred fifty-seven miles, six time zones, two connecting flights and a shuttle bus ride to the Omni William Penn in downtown Pittsburgh. (8/3/2011)
A Young 87 - At age 87, Navy Veteran and athlete Doris Merrill doesn’t feel old. In fact, the two gold and two silver medals she racked up during the 30th National Veterans Wheelchair Games last summer prove she’s far from slowing down. (8/3/2011)
Holly Koester - Holly Koester has made amazing personal achievements since participating in her first wheelchair sports event in 1991, including becoming the first wheelchair track star to complete a marathon in all 50 states. (6/28/2011)
Jim Milliken - Jim Milliken, a longtime participant in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, is a dedicated athlete who has learned through years of experience that training is the key to success. (6/28/2011)
Orlando Perez - If you’ve been to the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, chances are you know the name Orlando Perez. Perez, a paraplegic, was injured when he was 19, while serving in the Army. He began competing in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games at age 24, in 1999. (6/28/2011)
Anthony Radetic - Before being injured, Anthony Radetic loved to live life on the edge. He drove a sports car, served in the Army as a Blackhawk Helicopter pilot and was a dedicated Special Forces soldier. After a motor vehicle accident cost him the use of his legs, Radetic had to find new ways to live the fast-paced life he had grown accustom to. (6/28/2011)
2010
Diane Marsh - After dealing with the effects of multiple sclerosis for many years, Army Veteran Diane Marsh needed one more tool to help get back into life. She attended the 1996 National Veterans Wheelchair Games with the Minnesota Team – and it changed her outlook on life. (5/13/2010)
Dave Wolf - Army Veteran Dave Wolf experienced a life-changing moment when he entered his first National Veterans Wheelchair Games four years ago. (5/13/2010)