Posted on 07/12/2005 12:04:44 AM PDT by Crackingham
Heath Calhoun is cycling across America. Because he has no legs, he is doing this with his hands, pushing his pedals mightily up the sides of mountains, through rolling stretches of farmland, across suburban byways and city streets, with one idea in mind: that the country, which may be forgetting, needs to remember its wounded soldiers.
They are women and men like him, returned from duty in Iraq -- and some from Afghanistan -- without a leg or an arm or an eye or a hand, troops who lived when others died but who have a long way to go as they recover and rebuild.
"A lot of people think that the war is over, but Iraqis are still shooting at us every day," Calhoun, 26, said during a break near the White House, poised on his three-wheel hand cycle and surrounded by 50 other bicycle-mounted troops and supporters. "The wounded need their country's support."
With more than 3,500 miles behind them, Calhoun and two other riders yesterday brought their cross-country fundraising effort, Soldier Ride 2005, into Washington, to meet with President Bush in the morning and try to raise awareness about how many in the military are coming home injured. The latest Pentagon tallies show 13,336 wounded in Iraq and another 511 in the war on terrorism.
Here, as in other cities, the soldiers and other members of the military were joined in their journey by local wounded -- about a dozen in all -- some of whom would ride with them for a few hours, or a day, or a leg of their trip. That was part of the organizers' goal: to inspire can-do thinking and physical activity among those with debilitating injuries.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The latest Pentagon tallies show 13,336 wounded in Iraq and another 511 in the war on terrorism.
I'd prefer if that said 13,847 wounded in the war on terrorism.
Intentional idiocy. I really am starting to wonder if a degree in journalism requires a frontal lobotomy.
"Intentional idiocy."
Not idiocy. Just intentional bias and the hope that his readers are idiots or biased .
I don't think so as I doubt it even considers a frontal lobe.
Point taken!
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