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Memorial Day - Remember Our Veterans, Wounded Warriors, And Heroes

Updated on April 23, 2016
Patty Inglish, MS profile image

In many ways, music saved my life, and I have the most famous director of the USMC bands to thank for it!

Para-swimmer with service dog.
Para-swimmer with service dog. | Source

An Alignment Of Stars

Our Wounded Warriors and challenged athletes have shown themselves as stars that are as important as our accomplished statesmen, artists, mainstream athletes, and actors.

It is fitting that during the last days of the 2012 London Paralympics, former US Representative Gabby Giffords delivered the Pledge of Allegiance at a 2012 National Political Convention.

Shot in the brain outside a supermarket during January 2011, she shows regular improvement in her condition. She is only one of the injured that has not given up and in that, she joins our Wounded Warriors of the US military, along with the injured protective services men and women of the fire, police, EMT, and other departments hurt during 9/11 attacks. Some of them now compete in the Paralympic Games.

Physically and mentally challenged individuals and Wounded Warriors in the military and government are all as important as are uninjured people.

An alignment of stars - the Milky Way
An alignment of stars - the Milky Way | Source

Those labeled "disabled" have become a force in the world. Former Legislator Gabby Giffords, like the men and women recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, and those with congenital disorders or injuries is perhaps more able than the world knows or cares to admit.

Respect for All

Part of both major US political party platforms for Election 2012 included slashing changes to Medicaid health coverage for the disabled and some elderly.

In London during the final days of the 2012 Paralympics, a group of disabled individuals from the UK rioted against their local government in reaction to significant cuts to their own income benefits similar to US Social Security. It was an unhappy parallel to American developments.

Those labeled "disabled" have become a force in the world. Giffords, like the men and women recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, and those with congenital disorders or injuries is perhaps more able than the world knows. However, rumor has it that a yearly Paralympics Games may rise in popularity and viewership, given the record audiences in person and by way of television in 2012 and the record number of records broken in 2012.

Oscar Pistorius accomplished more than he anticipated when he entered the able-bodied Olympics on bladed legs. He brought worldwide attention and admiration for all of these people.

Physically and mentally challenged individuals and Wounded Warriors in the military and government are all as important as are uninjured people. They all deserve respect.

The Recovering Gabby Giffords Gives the Pledge of Allegiance

Lights In The Darkness

Each "disabled" person who succeeds; each voice in writing the truth.

Lights In the Darkness - Each "Disabled" Person Who Succeeds, Each Voice In Writing

Source

During the Sochi Winter Paralympics Games in 2014, unprecedented media coverage, including TV and Internet, increased viewership and respect of para-athletes again.

Change In Public Attitudes

Britain's TV Channel 4 broadcast the 2012 Paralympics, but also provided YouTube footage and spent £600,000 2010 - 2012 to develop 10 new TV reporters and presenters who are disabled.These 10 enjoyed specific, visible duties at Paralympics 2012, when as many as 37,000,000 people watched challenged athletes that included injured military veterans as well as others..

Channel 4 also conducted a survey of 2,000 people on the subject of the Paralympic Games - 1,000 who watched and 1,000 who did not watch. The results from the survey are compelling. Most people taking that survey felt that the Paralympics are as important as the Olympic Games and have a new interest in and respect for Paralympians and all the physically challenged.

During the Sochi Winter Paralympics Games in 2014, unprecedented media coverage, including TV and Internet, increased viewership and respect of para-athletes again.

Until we can all watch the Paralympics on local television broadcasts, let us encourage our differently-abled people in our communities.

The American networks scheduled 66 hours of live coverage of the Rio 2016 Paralympics, compared to only 5.5 hours of coverage in London in 2012.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Source

Sports Inclusion After 2016

The Paralympics earned much new respect in the 2012 London Summer Games and the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. Media coverage in 2016 and afterwards will boost their viewership even more.

Rio 2016 Summer Paralympics - Demanding Sports and More Media Coverage

In Brazil, two new demanding summer sports, para-canoe and paratriathlon, were scheduled for inclusion in the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games in Rio de Janero. A full three medal events were included for each of men’s and women’s para-canoe.

At least 60 athletes are registered to compete in para-canoe by Spring 2016. It is demanding, because is is nearly completely the same as able-bodied canoeing, which can be strenuous and tiring.

The 2016 paratriathlon was scheduled to involve a 750-meter swim section, a 20-kilometer bike ride, and a 5-kilometer run. Men’s divisions included the PT1 for wheelchair and handcycle athletes who cannot peddle with feet - some, because they have no feet or even legs.

The men’s PT4 classification made allowances for arm and leg deficiencies, impaired muscle power, and limited range of movement. The women were to enjoy a PT4 division as of May 2016.

The Media

There is always something going on there!

NBCUniversal Paralympics

For American in 2016, NBCUniversal and the USOC will offe more coverage of the Paralympic Games than ever before in history.Twenty years ago, we never say a paralympic event on television.

The American networks scheduled 66 hours of live coverage of the Rio 2016 Paralympics, compared to only 5.5 hours of coverage in London in 2012. Online media coverage will present every event in the 2016 Games.

Paralympics Stars To Watch On TV

Jessica Long

Jessica began Olympic competition in swimming at age 12 and plans to complete a fourth Paralympic games in 2016 at age 24. She was born without lower leg bones, as is famous doctor, paralympian, and Irish Tenor, Tynan Ronan. In 2015, Jessica was named Disability Swimmer of the Year after years of awards. She also rock climbs!

Melissa Stockwell

Melissa is retired from the US Army and service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was the first American female solider injured in combat when a roadside bomb hit her vehicle in 2004. The injury required the amputation of her left leg above the knee - but it does not stop this paratriathlete!.

Brad Snyder

This retired US Navy Lt. lost all of his sight when he was injured in explosion in Afghanistan. However, he won gold medals in 2012 and 2014 in paralympic and international swim events and scheduled himself for Rio 2016.

© 2012 Patty Inglish MS

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