Wounded Warriors take on Former Packers

By Debbie Gregory.

Americans have a unique spirit.  Many wounded warriors go on to do great things after they’ve recovered from their injuries. Some compete in the Paralympic Games, while others even return to active duty.

The motto of the Wounded Warrior Project should be “yes I can”.  The Wounded Warrior Project programs are ever-evolving to help wounded veterans accomplish their goals.

A team of U.S. military “Wounded Warriors” took on a team of Green Bay Packers alumni in a flag football game, raising money and awareness.

On August 10, 2013, the Wounded Warriors Amputee Football Team challenged the Packer and NFL Alumni at St. Norbert College. All proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Team.  Zimmer Thompson, a distributor of orthopedics for Zimmer, Inc. hosted the game.

The game featuring the Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Team took place at St. Norbert’s Donald J. Schneider Stadium. Participating team members had all lost limbs while serving in the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Leading the Packer and NFL Alumni team were five-time All-Pro offensive lineman Jerry Kramer, and 2013 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Dave Robinson. Also joining the team were Don Beebe, Ahman Green, Chris Jacke, Bill Schroeder, Harry Sydney, Randy Wright, and many other Green Bay Packer and NFL stars. There was also a free photo opportunity and autograph session prior to the start of the game, as well as a prize raffle, including a trip for two to San Francisco to attend the opening game of the Green Bay Packers 2013 NFL season.

Since 1927, Zimmer has been committed to providing effective joint replacement solutions.  They are a global leader in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of orthopedic reconstructive, spinal and trauma devices, biologics, dental implants and related surgical products.

While new improvements in in-theater medical care mean that more wounded soldiers are surviving disabling injuries. Those same soldiers are recovering faster and seeking more opportunities and challenges when it comes to overcoming their disabilities and resuming an active lifestyle.  One of those opportunities is through adaptive sports, which have been used in the physical therapy of injured servicemembers for decades. For more than 20 years, the Department of Veterans Affairs has partnered with organizations helping provide access to those sports to veterans.