Posted on 03/06/2013 3:48:55 PM PST by nickcarraway
Thanks to a program called Segs4Vets, more than two dozen severely wounded veterans received their very own Segways Wednesday during a special event aboard the USS Midway. The event – organized by Disability Rights Advocates for Technology (DRAFT) – included a ceremony in which 26 wounded warriors were each given their own personal mobility device.
DRAFT says each recipient of a Segway sustained injuries in combat either in Iraq or Afghanistan, many from improvised explosive device blasts. These veterans suffered leg amputation, soft tissue damage, spinal cord injuries and severe orthopedic and neurological damage while serving.
DRAFT says their Segs4Vets program is meant to give these veterans a newfound level of mobility and independence that’s not always achieved by a traditional wheelchair. The Segway giveaway is also a small way to thank disabled military service members for the major sacrifices they’ve made for our country.
Recipients at Wednesday’s event were thankful for their new mobility devices.
Marine Chris Banett, who did two deployments before sustaining life-changing injuries to his legs, told NBC 7 his Segway would allow him to move around with more ease and play with his dog.
“I have a dog at home that loves to run, so this Segway is going to help me out a lot in keeping up with her. This means a lot,” said Banett.
According to DRAFT, Segs4Vets received a blanket waiver from the Pentagon in 2006 allowing the non-profit organization to donate Segways to military personnel. Since then, the organization has given more than 1,000 Segways to disabled warriors and to military rehabilitation facilities in San Diego, Washington, D.C., and San Antonio.
These latest veterans to receive Segways in San Diego were trained on their new mobility devices earlier this week by DRAFT founders who are skilled Segway users despite their own disabilities.
To find out more about DRAFT and their Segs4Vets program, visit this website.
To donate funds toward the purchase of Segways for wounded veterans click here.
Haven’t these hero’s suffered enough?
Some ingenious individual created a knockoff of the Segway for about a fifth of the price using an impressive bit of technology to replace its complicated and expensive electronics and balancing system: a third wheel.
A simple third wheel in front and it is so stable it doesn’t need that other stuff. And you can apply the cost savings to a much better battery power supply.
If you really want luxury, have a pole sticking up in the back that has a seat you can lean against. Much more comfortable than standing erect.
Segway changed the world!!!
“Segway will be to the car what the car was to the horse and buggy.” — Dean Kamen, quoted in Time on December 2, 2001
“If enough people see the machine you won’t have to convince them to architect cities around it. It’ll just happen.” — Steve Jobs, quoted in a book proposal
Is this photoshopped?
I don’t see the Obama logo on the front?
Marginally more respectable.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.