JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With Jacksonville's skyline as a backdrop and fall-like weather, service members, veterans and families hit the pavement on a Sunday morning to run for a cause. The "Salute to Veterans 5K" -- to benefit The USS Adams Museum, K9s for Warriors and other veteran service organizations -- was part of Jacksonville's Week of Valor.
Wounded Warrior Project was contacted by race organizers 1st Place Sports and Team Red, White, and Blue, to see if its warriors and their family support members would participate in the November 6 race. A dozen answered the call, and Gary "Jay" White -- a Purple Heart recipient with the U.S. Army -- was one of them. But Jay not only signed up himself, he also registered his son.
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"Everything I do with my son has significance since I missed so much of his life through five deployments and multiple training events," said the 17-year Army veteran.
Jay has found help and healing through Wounded Warrior Project and this event, bringing service members and veterans from all branches together, was something he wanted to do with his teenager, Trajan, by his side.
"Since we both enjoy athletic, sporting and patriotic events, it seemed like the perfect event for us to attend," Jay said.
And events like this one at Jacksonville Landing, tie right into what he sees as important for not only his recovery but others like him.
"The never ending fight to stay physically, mentally and emotionally engaged. Too many times we see warriors become disengaged while they deal with their own recovery issues," Jay explained.
An estimated 400,000 service members and veterans returning from war are living with invisible injuries. Post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries are the signature wounds of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Wounded Warrior Project says this race is an example of the many ways the nonprofit reaches across organizational boundaries to connect warriors to each other, their communities, and the programs and resources to help them heal. It's something Jay truly appreciates.
"Wounded Warrior Project has the resources to allow warriors to stay engaged with other warriors with similar experience to assist in the many different routes of recovery," said Jay. "Any event that supports Veterans is one that my family and I cherish to be a part of."
From a sporting aspect, both father and son did very well in the "Salute to Veterans 5K." Trajan placed 2nd in his age group, Men 14 - 19, and Jay placed 3rd in his, Men 35 - 39. But athletics aside, it created a positive memory Jay will never forget.
"Watching him finish the race as well as he did was one of those moments that I'll carry on for the rest of my life," he explained.
If you would like information about Wounded Warrior Project and the services they offer, you can go to woundedwarriorproject.org or call 877-TEAM-WWP (832-6997).