Posted on 02/24/2005 5:16:12 PM PST by SandRat
VAIL, Colo., Feb. 24, 2005 – Vail Resorts has joined the Defense Department's "America Supports You" campaign, an ongoing nationwide program designed to showcase America's support to the men and women of the Armed Forces.
Vail Mountain and the Vail community will host 19 soldiers over the weekend of February 24-27. These soldiers are all recuperating from the loss of a limb, having been treated at the Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital in Washington, D.C.
This is the second annual Vail Veterans' Ski Weekend, and provides the opportunity for soldiers who were wounded in action in Iraq to learn to ski and snowboard. Soldiers will participate in two all-day private instruction lessons through Vail's Adaptive Ski Program, noted for its expertise in helping those with disabilities to enjoy snow sports.
In the evenings of the Vail Veterans' Ski Weekend, members of the Vail community have organized dinners and activities for the soldiers and their families.
"For many of these soldiers, the trip to Vail is their first adventure outside of the hospital," said Cheryl Jensen, event organizer for the Vail Veterans Ski Weekend. "This weekend is all about providing an inspirational experience that focuses on abilities versus disabilities. We're grateful to the numerous volunteers and supporters from the Vail community who have opened their homes, businesses and hearts to show their support of and belief in these men and women. I can't think of a better way to say 'we support you'."
Over the years, Vail Resorts has demonstrated its support of the military in a number of meaningful ways. The company's popular Keystone Ski Resort became a preferred recreation provider of the U.S. military in 2001 with its "Rocky Mountain Blue" program.
Last spring, Vail Resorts created a special program known as "Operation Freedom Lodging". The Company's resorts of Breckenridge and Keystone offered returning troops from Iraq and Afghanistan 1,000 complimentary room nights at the resorts' premier lodging properties, up to three room nights per soldier valid for an entire year. The demand was so overwhelming that the Company decided to extend the program, and instead, gave away nearly 2,000 room nights to much-deserving men and women of the U.S. military.
"Vail Resorts takes pride in its longstanding tradition of supporting the courageous men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, who have given so much to our country. We want the brave men and women of the military to know that we are deeply grateful for the sacrifices they make each day on our behalf and that we continue to support them," said Vail Resorts Chairman and CEO Adam Aron.
Aron said that many of America's finest ski resorts, including Vail, were created by returning soldiers from the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division after fighting in the Italian Alps during World War II. Those soldiers were trained for alpine conditions just a few miles away from what is now Vail, at Camp Hale, Colo., on the Continental Divide.
"Their exposure to the mountains of Colorado began at Camp Hale in troubled times," Aron said. "In turn, however, their love of the unique character of Colorado's Rocky Mountains was translated decades later into premier ski resorts that now bring smiles to the faces of millions of visitors each year."
"We are grateful to the Vail Resorts' leadership for their continued commitment to our Armed Forces. By the Vail Resorts' joining the "America Supports You" team, our deployed men and women and their families back home will be aware of the home front support from this important organization," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs.
Since the launch of the "America Supports You" program last November, tens of thousands of Americans, including individual citizens, businesses and organizations, have logged onto www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil to register the activities and projects in their communities that show support for America's Armed Forces, especially those serving in harm's way.
Disabled Iraq War Vets having a Ski Weekend of Fun.
Vail Mountain and the Vail community will host 19 soldiers over the weekend of February 24-27. These soldiers are all recuperating from the loss of a limb, having been treated at the Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Awesome. I always thought vail resorts would be a stuck-up liberal yuppie enclave. I'm happy to find that I'm wrong. If I ever make it out west for skiing, I know where I'm going.
Thanks for the heads up! I'll be there this weekend and you can bet I am going to look for them so I can thank them for their service!
This is great!
Thanks for the ping!
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