Two of my favorite interests merged yesterday when the Chicago Blackhawks hosted a skate around with wounded warriors at Soldier Field. It's rare for a professional sports team to muck around with ordinary Joe's in the middle of a record-breaking season. But these were no ordinary civilians--they were combat veterans who had suffered amputations and brain injuries, and this was no ordinary ice rink--as the event took place at hallowed Soldier Field (incidentally, dedicated to the men and women of the armed forces).
The wounded servicemen were part of the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program. The program, as explained on its website, is designed to give military veterans who have been injured in military action the chance to play hockey in an environment that is suited to their needs. The program trains and supplies injured servicemen and women with hockey equipment and the skills needed to use the sport of ice hockey as a rehabilitation tool to overcome both physical and mental injuries sustained either in combat or in defense of our country.
What a fabulous tribute the Blackhawks' players and organization made to our military members who have given so much in service to us all. I applaud Patrick Kane, Jonathon Toews, Duncan Keith and their teammates, management and owners. I remain in awe of the servicemen and women who survived their tours of duty with significant physical and mental scars, yet continue to fight off the battle field everyday, persevering in accomplishing the simple things I take for granted on a daily basis.
On Saturday, the Blackhawk players forgot they were professional athletes and the military members forgot they were Warriors. For an afternoon, they all were simply hockey players.
For more video of this marvelous event, click here.
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