1st Lt Melissa Stockwell, USA Retired

Soldier Ride will start at the Santa Monica Pier today at 9:30 am.

Please come out and support the wounded warriors.

The event will start at 9 am at the Santa Monica Pier. Come out and ride along or just cheer on the wounded veterans and show your support. At 10 am the warriors will ride from the pier along the bike path to Venice Beach and Marina Del Ray. After a rest stop they will return to the pier. Total distance is 22 miles. 

Friday’s ride is dedicated to the memory of Sgt. David Hart

There will be over 20 wounded heroes in attendance. Among them are: 

1st Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell (US Army, Retired)
Melissa was the first female amputee from the war in Iraq. She was wounded on April 13, 2004 in Baghdad. Last fall Melissa again represented her country swimming in Beijing on the US Paralympics swim team. 

Sergeant Latseen Benson (US Army, Retired)
Benson was wounded on November 13, 2005 during his second tour in Iraq with the famed 101st Airborne Division resulting in the amputation of both of his legs. Sgt. Benson’s best friend in the Army was Sgt. David Hart. David was killed on August 8, 2008 during his second tour in Iraq. Nicole Hart, David’s widow, will be riding along with the wounded warriors. Wounded Warrior Project has dedicated the Soldier ride in California to the memory of Sgt. Hart. 

Soldier Ride is a rehabilitative cycling program for wounded veterans. For many of these combat wounded veterans it is a way to return to an active lifestyle. Soldier Ride also allows the Wounded Warrior Project to bring its message to the public and raise awareness of its mission and the issues faced by wounded veterans. 

1st Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell

These cyclists, many who have been severely wounded, want to give back. The Soldier Ride also helps to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project. Even though they have already given so much, they want to give this positive message to the public and pass the message on to the next group of wounded soldiers. 

Many of these men and women have been physically active throughout their lives and are not going to lose that. They are going to get on the bike and prove to themselves “I can still do this.” Soldier Ride is not about the politics, it’s not about the war, it’s simply about the soldiers. 

For more information please see woundedwarriorproject.org, wwpsoldierride.blogspot.com or “WWP Soldier Ride” on Facebook. 

Honoring and empowering wounded warriors