President George W. Bush has been quiet about politics since leaving office but has remained active in his dedication to members of our armed forces.
This weekend, Bush joined a group of wounded warriors for his annual W100K, a 100 kilometer bike ride meant to honor their service and remind others of their bravery.
The Fox News Insider reports:
Hear From President Bush as He Starts His Bike Ride With Wounded WarriorsPresident George W. Bush is hosting his fifth annual bike ride for Wounded Warriors in Texas.Fox News’ own Dr. Marc Siegel is riding along with the former commander-in-chief and our nation’s heroes on the three-day journey.”They’re injured and yet they refuse to allow their injury to consign them to a dull, meaningless life,” Bush told Siegel.The W100K ride involves about 20 injured service members on a 100-kilometer mountain bike ride near the Bush family’s Crawford ranch.Siegel noted that for injured soldiers, it’s important for them to successfully transition back to normal life, something many veterans struggle with.
Here’s a video report:
For some, the event is a chance to connect with the president personally.
The Dallas Morning News reports:
Veterans and spouses get to know their former commander-in-chief George W. Bush during bike rideThe fifth annual Warrior 100K, which is part of the George W. Bush Institute’s military service initiative, is a three-day bike ride to honor service members injured in Afghanistan and Iraq.“I’m proud to be their friend, I was proud to be their commander-in-chief and now I’m proud to be riding mountain bikes with them,” Bush said.Following Bush’s opening remarks, and with his signature “Let’s ride!” the group took off on the 30-mile trek throughout the ranch.Army Specialist Marco Vasquez said he was in a Starbucks one day a few years ago when he saw President Bush riding with veterans in the paper.“I actually started crying, I was like someone gives a [expletive] about us,” he said. “The commander-in-chief still cares. So I thought maybe one day I’ll go, but right now is not the time.”Vasquez said after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury, he found recovery in mountain biking, among other activities and called the weekend “ a huge treat.” He was honorably discharged in 2004.“[Bush] led the way for us, for our nation, for two terms, and now I get to meet him and be a part of it,” he said.
Featured image via YouTube.
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