| Rockaway Honors Troops
 For the
second year, Irish-American families in Rockaway, New York, played
weekend hosts to wounded soldiers July 6-9. Retired firefighter Captain Flip
Mullen organized the visit of 40 soldiers from the Walter Reed Army
Medical Center in Washington, D.C. to Rockaway, where they stayed with
local families.
Jam-packed with activities, the weekend began with a police escort from
Goethals Bridge to Rockaway with five NYPD helicopters leading the way.
Fireboats in the river sprayed red, white and blue water into the air to
begin the weekend in spectacular style.
Injured soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan water skied, scuba dived and
took part on other water activities at Rockaway Point as part of the
2006 Adaptive Water Sports Festival, a joint effort of the Wounded
Warrior Project, Disabled Sports USA, the Graybeards, and the Fire
Department of New York. Celebrities were out in force, with Sopranos
actors Tony Sirico (Paulie) and John Ventimiglia (Artie Bucco) enjoying
the fun.
The community of Rockaway knows a great deal about tragedy, having
suffered many casualties on 9/11 and further trauma when American
Airlines flight 587 crashed in the area just two months later. However,
these events have only brought the town closer together, and the
residents’ willingness not only to help their own but to open their
homes to returning wounded soldiers is an inspiring example. – Declan
O’Kelly |
