Above, Pat Lewandowski, volunteer with the Wounded Warrior Project, honors the flag during the national anthem prior to a softball game between the Wounded Warrior Project and Rosemont's fire and police departments.At right, retired Army Staff Sgt. Mike Morabito of Madison, Fla., bats during the softball game between the Wounded Warrior Project and Rosemont's fire and police departments at The Ballpark at Rosemont on Thursday.
Photos by Dave Dvorak/ddvorak@dailyherald.com
About 50 wounded veterans from across the country will be bicycling through Chicago today and Saturday following two days of events in Rosemont.
They are participating in a four-day program being staged by Wounded Warriors Project with the goal of offering veterans a chance to engage with other wounded veterans while helping them combat the physical, emotional and spiritual wounds of war, organizers said.
On Wednesday, the veterans were outfitted in Rosemont with custom adaptive hand cycles, trikes and bicycles for the rides.
On Thursday, the veterans participated in a softball game with Rosemont police and fire personnel after biking a 15-mile course starting at the Rosemont Fire Station on River Road and ending at the Chicago Bandits fastpitch softball stadium at Balmoral Avenue and Pearl Street.
Veterans today will ride a 17-mile stadium tour from Wrigley Field to U.S. Cellular Field, and Saturday they will ride 25 miles from downtown Chicago to Highland Park.
More information is at woundedwarriorproject.org.
Rosemont firefighter Joe Rivera high fives Landon Kruppa, 9, of Rosemont during a softball game between the Wounded Warrior Project and Rosemonts fire and police departments at The Ballpark at Rosemont on Thursday.
Dave Dvorak/ddvorak@dailyherald.com
Greg Daniels, left, of Elmwood Park shakes hands with retired Marine Staff Sgt. Cristof Tank Marron as wife Debi looks on at The Ballpark at Rosemont on Thursday. Marron dedicated the softball games between the Wounded Warrior Project and Rosemonts fire and police departments to the Daniels son Marine Lance Cpl. Nickolas Daniels, who was killed in action Nov. 5, 2011, in Afghanistan.
Dave Dvorak/ddvorak@dailyherald.com
Pat Lewandowski, volunteer with the Wounded Warrior Project, honors the flag during the national anthem prior to a softball game between the Wounded Warrior Project and Rosemonts fire and police departments at The Ballpark at Rosemont on Thursday.
Dave Dvorak/ddvorak@dailyherald.com
Skates, the Chicago Wolves mascot, bats during a softball game between the Wounded Warrior Project and Rosemonts fire and police departments at The Ballpark at Rosemont on Thursday.
Dave Dvorak/ddvorak@dailyherald.com