Wounded Warriors Compete in Sitting Volleyball Tournament

U.S. Marine Corps Wounded Warriors celebrate their Joint Service Sitting Volleyball Tournamnet championship at the Pentagon, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013. (REYNALDO LEAL/Deptartment of Veterans Affairs)

Since 2008, the Department of Defense has designated November as Warrior Care Month with a goal of educating Servicemembers and their families about the opportunities offered by the Warrior Care system. This year’s theme, Building a Ready and Resilient Force, serves two goals: focusing not only on what the program does for disabled service members, but what these wounded warriors can still do for their communities, families and country.

VA and VA’s Adaptive Sports program is proud to team up with the Department of Defense for Warrior Care Month, and helped sponsor the third annual Joint Service Sitting Volleyball Tournament at the Pentagon. It’s just one of the events where VA is showing its support of disabled Veterans through sports and rehabilitation.

John Kramer serves during the Joint Service Sitting Volleyball Tournamnet at the Pentagon, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013. (REYNALDO LEAL/Deptartment of Veterans Affairs)

“These men and women are leading by example and showing that having an injury ordisability is not an obstacle,” said Jose Llamas, Community Affairs Officer, VA National Veterans Sports Programs. “With the help of the United States Olympic Committee and VA’s Paralympic Grant Program we are redefining how we provide adaptive sports to Veterans and injured service members by providing more resources to community based programs all across the country.”

VA’s Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr. Tommy Sowers, also stopped by to speak with the tournament’s participants and coaches. He wanted to make sure they understood that when they made the move to the civilian world, VA could help them pursue their athletic goals and continued high quality of care.

“I want to let you know that VA and the Adaptive Sports program is ready for you,” Sowers said.

Dr. Tommy Sowers speaks to the Wounded Warriors who competed at the Joint Service Sitting Volleyball Tournamnet at the Pentagon, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013. (REYNALDO LEAL/Deptartment of Veterans Affairs)

Congratulations to all of this year’s participants and the U.S. Marine Corps team for winning the tournament championship!

If you are interested in learning more about VA adaptive sports, or know a Veteran who could benefit from the program, visit www.va.gov/adaptivesports and follow on twitter.