Soldier Ride

Dear Wounded Warrior Project,

I can't say how great the Soldier Ride was. Because of your association, I was able to meet many others who have been through similar and oh so tramatic events greater than myself. It has been my honor to have the privilage to ride along with true heros and friends. Where WWP is now is a tribute to the men and women who make it up.

I am a stronger person today thanks to WWP.

Respectfully Submitted,
Daniel

I wanted to thank you for the oppurtunity once again to patricipate in Soldier Ride. I had an epiphany today while I was riding. I thought back to the days where I hated my life and felt utterly useless. Then I agreed to go on my first Soldier Ride. WOW!!!! The feeling of empowerment. I believe I've come full circle in what Soldier Ride has to offer. I can honestly say it saved me. It gave me a physical and mental outlet which is cycling. You gave me that. All of you did. I'm eternally grateful. I'm hanging my pistols after the NY ride. I want others to take my spot who are in rough times in rehab as I was. Hopefully it will help them as it helped me. I had the best times of my life with you guys. Thank you. See you in NY Ranger buddy.

RLTW
Gonzo

Wow,

Where do I start? There is nothing that I can compare to this week. I find it even hard to explain to my family how amazing it was. This trip has brought me miles closer to the friends that I have been recovery with. Also, it has helped me redefine my thoughts of the hardships I my encounter in the next chapters of my life.

Although meeting the President and all the politicians was surreal; Kelly Lowman and her loving family, Project Staff, Uhaul, Supporters, Private Joker, and friends meant more to me than any dignitary that this country could muster.

Thank you for exposing me to something I never saw myself doing, and providing me the courage to face my injuries as a mere deterrence to the ENDLESS possibilities.

Sincerely Awakened,
Joe

I just wanted to send you a quick note and thank you for all you do for soldier ride. Before the Chicago ride I wasn't doing too well physically or emotionally. WWP let me meet other wounded vets who had similar injuries and see that they're doing ok and can bike. WWP, Joe Gross, and soldier ride really pulled me away from the "dark side" and now I'm on track to getting my life back together...and I've since gotten into cycling (I got a Fuji newest 2.0 after the New York ride). I'm on my way to recovery and I have WWP soldier ride to thank for that. If there is anything I can do to help with soldier ride in the future please let me know, and thanks again.

-Chris R

Dear WWP,

I was recently honored with the opportunity to participate in the WWP Midwest Soldier Ride. There are really no words that could even get close enough to express how deeply this experience affected me and how humbled I was to be among our Heroes who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

This event was awesome, but not as awesome as our Warriors. Their courage and determination to live life to its fullest is awe inspiring and very evident in their spirit and camaraderie with one another. Each and every event that I am involved in, honoring our Military is yet another reminder of how lucky we are in America. To have the freedom to move about the country as we please without great fear and to see that the American public offers their support to those who have served this great nation is something that we Americans take for granted. I am proud to be an American, and am even more proud to be involved and do whatever I can to contribute to this tremendous organization – Great Job!!!

With that said, I would like to thank everyone involved with the Wounded Warrior Project, and each and every one of the men and women of our military. Please accept this small donation as an ongoing commitment to my support and involvement with the Wounded Warrior Project.

With my deepest sincerity and gratitude to and for our Wounded Warriors,
Denise

I just got home from one of the most humbling and inspiring events I have ever been to. The Wounded Warrior Project, who supports our wounded soldiers, hosted the Southern Shindig tonight to kick off their Nashville Soldier ride. Yes, Trace Adkins was there and he was great, but that wasn't what I saw there that was the most memorable.

I saw a man named Sal Gonzalez, who lost his lower left leg in Iraq, sing with such intensity a powerful song he wrote about how he feels he isn't a hero...that the heroes are the ones who didn't come home. To see someone who has given so much, and been through so much, refuse to think of himself as a hero, even as he sits there following his dreams despite it all, just brought me to tears.

I saw another man named Heath, who is one of the founding members of the project, who lost both legs and five months later competed in his first sporting event, before he even had his prosthetic legs. I saw that he biked across the country, with an adaptive bike, using his hands! I saw that he is training in hopes of making the US Para Olympic team.

I saw a family from Franklin, a wife and two daughters, who lost their father and husband.

I saw that there are so many others out there who have given so much to the rest of us, for what they believe. I saw that it could easily be someone close to my heart, and there are two in the military now, one of whom is in Iraq this very minute. I saw that I haven't thought enough about, or done enough for, these truly inspiring individuals. I saw that I am so guilty of letting small things worry me, of making excuses when I get discouraged...and I saw that there is absolutely no excuse for all of those excuses. I saw courage, strength, determination..all personified. In short, I saw heroes, even if they don't believe themselves to be.

Mindi M
Nashville Tennessee