Photographer: Konrad Johnson
Alexandria is set to roll out the red carpet for more than 270 athletes and their families after the city was selected as the headquarters for the 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games Family Program.
“This is the result of an unprecedented partnership among seven
veteran and economic development partners,” said Lorraine Lloyd, vice president of sales at Visit Alexandria. “Beginning with George Washington, Alexandria has welcomed and hosted veterans and their families throughout our history and now we are honored to roll out the welcome mat for the Warrior Games Family Program. It’s a great way to give back to our heroes and it showcases our city as an ideal community for veterans.”
From June 19-28, teams representing the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and U.S. Special Operations Command and British Armed Forces will participate in the annual sporting competition designed to bring together wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans from across the country. Athletic events will be held at Quantico with the Westin Alexandria serving as the host hotel for families of the athletes.
The Warrior Games began in 2011 when the DoD created the Military Adaptive Sports Program to enhance the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded warriors. Since its inception, the program has assisted more than 158,000 service members at 325 structured camps and clinics for activities including basketball, cycling, track, field, swimming, golf, sitting volleyball, yoga and gardening.
Support for the effort to bring the games’ Family Program to Alexandria came from multiple veteran organizations working with the City of Alexandria and Visit Alexandria, including Capitol Post, the Alexandria Veterans Advisory Group, the Military Officers Association of America and the American Legion. The Fisher House Foundation, based in Rockville, Md., is assisting in coordinating lodging and transportation to and from Quantico.
Capitol Post, AVAG and Visit Alexandria are also working to extend the “Vets Gotta Eat!” deals for veterans at local businesses to include warriors, their families and all veterans in the area during the games, while the Westin will accommodate the special needs and requirements of guests.
“From the mayor to our veteran organizations, this has truly been a one team, one fight approach,” said Bill Rausch of AVAG. “Our entire community has stepped up to provide an exceptional experience for these families.”
This is the first year that the DoD is organizing the games, which were previously run by the United States Olympic Committee and held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
For information on available sponsorships or event partnerships, contact Lorraine Lloyd at LLloyd@visitalexva.com.