On Saturday, May 10, 2008, Homes for Our Troops, a non-profit organization that supports disbaled veterans and their families remodel or rebuild their homes to help accomodate the soldier’s new activties for daily living, hosted its fifth annual fundraising dinner. Honored this evening were Army veterans Casimir Werda, Joshua Hoffman, and Robert Bates.
“These soldiers deserve the reognition, not only for their service, but because they paid a great price in protecting our liberty and freedom while deployed in combat,” says U.S. Army veteran Bert Copple, who is also running for U.S. Congress in Michigan’s 12th Congressional District.
Copple served as one of two guest speakers during the event. A disabled veteran with a minor disability rating for osteoarthritis in his ankle, Copple is unable to run any longer. “I am, by no means, at a disadvantage like these fine men are here tonight. But I know what it means to have given up a piece of yourself by serving one’s country. This program (Home for Our Troops) does a remarkable job helping these veterans put their lives back in order.”
In his speech, Copple referred back to the confidence course all basic trainees are required to progress through in their efforts of training. He commented about one element of the course that challenged him the most, and even defined his own perception of his identity as a soldier.
“We had to go over these five walls, our entire team, in fifteen minutes. We grumbled and complained over the first four-foot wall, and continued to struggle over the 6-foot, 8-foot, and 10-foot walls. But something amazing happened at the fifth wall. We stopped seeing the wall and started working together as a team. On the other side of that wall, looking up, I knew I was a soldier.”
Copple continued by saying that soldiers who are honorably discharged from the military with disabilities face a sixth wall when they come home. “It is the responsibility of our country, our states, and our communities to serve as their new battle buddies, helping them to stop seeing the wall, and to simply overcome it. Tonight, you have done just that by filling these seats, by paying for your tickets, and helping these fine young men overcome their walls. Together, we can do even more.”
HOPE. FAITH. CHANGE in 2008!
