[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17764]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        IN RECOGNITION OF THE NATIONAL VETERANS WHEELCHAIR GAMES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 2003

  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize Alice G. Hastings, Lt. Col. Gilbert L. Hernandez and the 
staff of the Long Beach Veterans Hospital for their hard work in 
planning and hosting the 23rd National Veterans Wheelchair Games in 
Long Beach, CA, last week.
  The first games, held in 1981, brought 74 veterans to compete from 14 
States. Today, these games have grown to become the largest annual 
wheelchair-sporting event in the world. Last year, over 480 athletes 
came from 44 States, Puerto Rico and Great Britain to compete.
  Wheelchair sports began after World War II, as young disabled 
veterans began playing basketball in VA hospitals throughout the United 
States.
  Interest soon spread to other sports and brought a sense of belonging 
and camaraderie to hundreds of veterans.
  I want to thank all our veterans that participate in these games, 
both for the sacrifice they made for our country and for keeping us 
inspired to be the best we can be.

                          ____________________