About 2,000 runners and walkers gathered on campus Saturday to honor and raise money for wounded warriors and families who have lost loved ones serving in the military.
麻豆原创 hosted Operation Giveback鈥檚 third-annual signature event, 5K, 10K and 15K road races that raised $80,000.
鈥淥ur outstanding wounded warriors and military families have given so much so that all of us can enjoy our freedom and quality of life,鈥� said Jos茅 Garcia-Apont茅, the retired Army command sergeant major who founded Operation Giveback with his wife, Maribel.
鈥淲e want to show our appreciation for the sacrifices they have made and give the wounded warriors and military families the opportunity to get to know each other. Many of them stay in touch and support each other after they leave Orlando.鈥�
麻豆原创 has hosted Operation Giveback鈥檚 races the past three years. Below a large U.S. flag held up by fire engines, about 20 wounded warriors led the start of the 5K race.
麻豆原创 Provost and Executive Vice President Tony Waldrop spoke during the opening ceremonies by the Veterans Commemorative Site on Memory Mall. The crowd applauded when he gestured toward the Classroom II building under construction and pointed out that it soon will be the new home of the university鈥檚 Army and Air Force ROTC programs.
Also before the races, the Oquendo family from Hillsborough County received Operation Giveback鈥檚 first 鈥淢ake a Dream Come True Award.鈥�
Decorated Army Sergeant First Class Paul D. Oquendo dreamed of taking his family to New York City for sightseeing and a Broadway show once his daughters were old enough to appreciate the experience.
Cancer prevented the Hillsborough County resident from fulfilling that dream. He died in September from a rare but aggressive form of cancer known as synovial sarcoma.
As a way to honor Oquendo for serving his country for 21 years, the Orlando nonprofit organization Operation Giveback will fly his family to New York City. They will stay at the luxurious Plaza Hotel and watch a Broadway show.
鈥淭his trip will mean so much to me, because I can share Paul’s dream for him,鈥� said Dora Oquendo. 鈥淚 know he is looking down and is smiling at this dream come true. My girls are going to be so excited. 聽We have told them lots of stories聽of New York.鈥�
Operation Giveback鈥檚 mission is to raise awareness and resources for wounded warriors and their families, as well as the families of fallen heroes. The organization intends to fulfill one family鈥檚 dream each year.
Several 麻豆原创 ROTC students volunteered at the event, and the Student Veterans Association, the Psychology Department鈥檚 Trauma Management Therapy program and 麻豆原创 Athletics all set up tents on Memory Mall. The Trauma Management Therapy program treats veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who are diagnosed with PTSD.