Supporting Our Soldiers at the 2024 Warrior Games
AARP Orlando and AARP National Veterans and Military Families had the ultimate opportunity to support and honor active duty and retired members of our armed forces during the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games.
Taking place at ESPN Wide World of Sports from June 21-30, the event "serves to enhance the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded warriors by providing them exposure to adaptive sports. Participation in the Warrior Games...demonstrates the incredible potential of wounded warriors through competitive sports."
And the sporting events included everything under the sun — from swimming and cycling to archery and precision air sports. Over 200 wounded warriors competed this year.
AARP Orlando was proud to join other nonprofits through the entire week, talking with Veterans and their family members about our various caregiving and home modification resources, as well as our work in the local community.
But the most gratifying moment for our AARP Orlando volunteers was the opportunity to give back to those who have served.
"We really wanted to show our support for Veterans and military families at this event," explains Yazmin Alfonso, Associate State Director of Outreach. "The games have such an amazing amount of patriotism and athleticism, and it has been really amazing to chat with members of every branch."
"I have a loved one who was wounded in Afghanistan, and I think it is incredibly important to teach my children to give back — specifically to military events — and help the wounded as much as we possibly can." explains Lauren Saltzman, who volunteered at the AARP table with her young daughter, Grace. Saltzman is also an Alumni Florida Dole Caregiver fellow of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, an organization supporting and honoring military & veteran caregivers.
"My father served in the Army and my nephew is currently in the Navy," explains AARP Orlando volunteer Charmia Bonner. "To see members of the armed forces and their families here supporting each other is something extremely special."
To learn more about AARP's Veterans resources, please visit aarp.org/veterans and our Florida Veterans Resource page.
