4 years ago
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Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Dan Regan says a simple visit and chat with these veterans can make a lot of difference. Maneuvering his way through the hallways on crutches, the amputee is visiting the men and women at the Central Arkansas Veteran's Hospital as part of a national Soldier Ride tour.
Regan says, ?I remember when I was in the hospital and how rough it was, and just to be able to help those guys realize that it's going to be OK."
It's a cross-country cycling effort made up of some wounded service men and women whose sole purpose is to bike across the U.S. from Los Angeles to New York to bring awareness to the needs of wounded soldiers. It?s also to say thanks for those who came before them for their service to our country.
One of the veterans Regan is visiting is Retired Army veteran William Stovall. Stovall was in Korea in 1960-62, during peacetime and is thankful for the visit.
He says, ?You hate to see the affects of war and everything, but you have to support the ones and give them the strength to go on."
Regan enlisted in the Army National Guard 12 years ago and was deployed stateside to Fort Polk, La., when the war began. An unfortunate boating accident would claim his leg.
Regan says, ?It encourages you and lets you know that your life isn't over. I won't lie to you - losing a leg, it sucks, but it's not the end of the world. There are a lot of people worse off."
A part of Soldier Ride's mission is passing the stories on of the different men and women and sharing the price of freedom.
Retired Army veteran Harmon McLendon shares a story about the important price of freedom, ?A story is told of one man who complained about something in a VA hospital and he had this much of his left arm gone. Some clown - that would have caught one of mine across the mouth- when he told him, well it's not costing you anything. Wow, [pointing to his left arm] that's all it cost him."
For Regan, he admits this mission helps him as he continues his road to recovery.
?It's good to hear the stories from the guys,? he says. ?It's kind of like talking to my father and hearing his stories. It's good to have the different perspective."
