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MHS Welcomes 3 Wound Warriors to the V/NB Program

Maine Handicapped Skiing has been the site of camaraderie, friendly banter and winter sports for 23 disabled Veterans and their guest this weekend for the 3rd annual Veterans No Boundaries Program. (V/NB)  Tthe Veterans arrived from the New England Region on Thursday evening.  Each man or woman introduced themselves being sure to include the branch of service in which they served.  On Friday many of the participants tried their hand at dog sledding, and everyone enjoyed some time on the snow, either at Sunday River for snowboarding and alpine skiing, or the Sunday River Inn for nordic skiing or snowshoeing.

MHS is honored this year to welcome three Wounded Warriors to the V/NB program.  The Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project is a partnership between the Wounded Warrior Project and Disabled Sports USA to provide year-round sports programs for severely wounded service members from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict and the global war on terrorism.  Anthony Smith, Shon Holler and Aaron Rice have traveled to Maine from the southern part of the country to take part in the Veteran’s No Boundaries Program at MHS.

Anthony was in the Army, and while serving in Iraq he was hit by an RPG causing the amputation of his right arm, below the elbow.  He also sustained an incomplete spinal injury at the T-7 Level. He is spending the weekend enthusiastically alpine skiing as a four tracker, using two skis and outriggers as poles.  The highlight of his trip to Maine he says has been “meeting everyone and being with the other disabled soldiers.”  Anthony currently lives in Amorel, Arkansas.

Shon and his guest Terri are cruising the slopes of Sunday River.  Shon was injured in Afghanistan while serving in the Army.  He has been snowboarding this weekend, while Terri skis along beside. Shon lights up when you ask how he is doing or how his trip to Maine from Nashville has been.  “Everything is awesome, the snow, the program, the people, it all has been great.”

Aaron and his wife Kelly, both snowboarding at Sunday River this weekend are soaking in every aspect of Maine.  They want to see the coast, and maybe eat some lobster before they return to Starkville, Mississippi.  The highlight of their time with the Veterans/No Boundaries program, for Kelly was the dog sledding they took part in yesterday.  “It is an unmatched opportunity; nobody gets a chance to do that.”  Aaron is completely enjoying the snow that fell on Friday afternoon.  The left below the knee amputee says, “The highlight of my trip is today’s powder.”

The Veterans will be at Sunday River through Monday February, 4th. 

Jay Germain, a Veteran of the Army, skiing Escapade at Sunday River in Friday's snow

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