[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15048]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                           HORSES FOR HEROES

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 26, 2012

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Army Sergeant Curtis Davis returned to 
America from his last deployment in a wheelchair. He thought he would 
never be able to walk again. However, he was welcomed back with open 
arms by his family and friends who told him that wasn't so. Sergeant 
Davis did not immediately have the physical ability to get back into 
the active father role of running around with his kids or participating 
in physical activities that our military men and women dream of doing 
when they return from serving overseas.
  Today, Sergeant Davis is back up on his feet thanks to Horses for 
Heroes, a program located northwest of Georgetown, Texas, dedicated to 
improving the lives of injured veterans. Prior to becoming involved 
with Horses for Heroes, Sergeant Davis could not balance on his own two 
legs and was unable to walk without a cane or crutches. And after 
several rides on a horse, his life has improved. He can now walk. He 
has also learned peace and a therapeutic connection to a horse.
  Just like Sergeant Davis, there are several service men and women who 
were injured in Iraq or Afghanistan. Some of them were physically 
injured, others were emotionally injured. Horses for Heroes has helped 
heal these men and women who risked their lives for our freedom. The 
organization has created a special environment where our injured 
veterans have gone for support, recovery, and inspiration, all on a 
horse with a veteran at their side. Improved balance, motor skills, 
speech, morale, and well being are only a few of the benefits of Horses 
for Heroes treatments.
  Post-war life is a difficult adjustment. It is great to see a local 
Texas organization investing in the physical and emotional lives of our 
American heroes.
  And that's just the way it is.

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