Speech Colonel David Hall gave at the Rotary luncheon.

Colonel David Hall, USMC - Sue Morning Photo

Good afternoon . . . I am Colonel Dave Hall, the Commanding Officer of the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center which is located just up 395 in Bridgeport. I want to start by telling you how excited I, and the Marines I brought with me today, are to be here, and how much we appreciate the invitation to participate in this great event.

While I am fairly certain that nothing I say here today is new to most of you I just wanted to take a few minutes to talk about the importance of events like this. As you know, DOD and all of the services have instituted programs to help our wounded service members. DOD's program is called the Military Severely Injured Operations Center. The one you are probably most familiar with is the Army's Wounded Warrior Program. The Marine Corps has the Marine For Life Injured Support Program, the Navy has the Safe Harbor Program and the Air Force has the Palace Hart Program.

Each of these programs recognizes the extreme sacrifices our injured service members have made in the defense of their country. Their unselfish sacrifices in places like Iraq and Afghanistan have kept the horrors of this global war on terror away from America's shores since 9/11. In fact, because of their sacrifices, I submit to you that many Americans - certainly not all, but many - scarcely know we are at war and certainly do not feel its effects as they carry out their daily routines . . . And that's ok, that's why each of us in uniform signed that dotted line on our enlistment contracts long ago.

It is that willingness to go into harm's way that provides the impetus behind the extraordinary steps we take when one of them falls. Each of the programs I mentioned above were designed to provide much needed services to severely injured active service members and their families during the critical time between their initial rehabilitation while on active duty and their eventual transition to civilian life. These services include pre- and post-separation assistance, coordination with physical evaluation boards, benefits counseling, assistance with employment, referral services for disability information, representation before the Department of Veterans Affairs, advocating for regulatory and statutory changes beneficial to veterans and active duty service members, and coordination with veterans, public, and private organizations providing support to our seriously wounded personnel.

This last aspect of the service plans is where organizations like Disabled Sports USA and Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra enter into partnership with the military to help us care for the psychological and emotional well-being of our wounded warriors. These exceptional organizations recognized, based on nearly 40 years of experience, that faced with a traumatic change in physical ability many of these veterans experience a loss of confidence, depression, and even a sense that they no longer have anything to contribute to society and that simply is not true. Organizations such as those sponsoring this event have helped us understand that early intervention and involvement in active sports and sports competition results in successful rehabilitation, the restoration of self-confidence, and a focus on the art of the possible vice what has been lost. Since they were founded, they have had tremendous success in helping to transition thousands of our wounded warriors into active, meaningful civilian lives . . . and for that we owe them our deepest gratitude.

In that vein, I would like to extend my personal thanks to the Executive Director, Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra - Ms. Kathy Copeland and her staff for their efforts in pulling together this week's activities to honor, care for, and expose our wounded warriors to the many possibilies that still await them. I'd also like to recognize the staff of Mammoth Mountain who's willingness to make their facilities available is what makes this particular event possible. To the many other local organizations like the Holiday Inn, the Noon and Sunrise Rotary Clubs, Belladonna, Roberto's and Sue at the Breakfast Club - your support of this event is instrumental to its success and we thank all of you. And finally, to Terry Smutney, himself a disabled vet from Desert Shield / Desert Storm who understands personally the value of this program . . . thanks for your help and involvement.

To our wounded warriors and program participants: Specialist Alroy Billiman, United States Army; Lance Corporals Jacob Rose & Bob Pratt, United States Marine Corps; Hospitalmen 3rd Class Randell Leoncio & Dan Jacobs, United States Navy; and Coast Guardsman Brice Brokaw, . . . Gents, you are here today representing the thousands of service men and women who have been wounded during these most recent conflicts and I hope the week you have spent here in the Eastern Sierra mountains will serve to assure you that your sacrifices were not in vain and that the people of this great nation have not - and will not - forget what you have given for them.

I don't know if words from me can help soothe the pain you have endured but rest assured, your actions in far away lands have kept the wolf off America's doorstep these last five years. Your actions, and those of your comrades in arms, have kept America's citizens safe and free from having to endure another 9/11 or something even worse. I want you to know that each of you have truly made a difference in preserving our security here at home and despite what others may say, preserving that peace and security in our homeland is why America deploys her soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen away from her shores to fight! Because of that, you are, and will remain, valued members of your individual services, friends to those you fought beside, and among the most valued citizens of this country. You and those you represent are all heroes and we thank you for both your service and your sacrifice.