Falcons flock to Washington, DC
On May 14, Atlanta Falcons players Harry Douglas, Stephen Nicholas, Von Hutchins and DJ Shockley along with five Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders had the chance to visit Washington D.C. and pay their respects to soldiers who have been fighting overseas. The USO hosted the group for a full day of visits with the wounded soldiers.
The contingent arrived in Washington Thursday morning and was transported to the MATC (Military Advance Training Center) at Walter Reed Army Medical Center before making several additional stops prior to their return.
“This was such an eye-opening experience. To hear the stories that these soldiers have gone through and the challenges they are facing, it’s truly unbelievable,” Hutchins said. “Seeing this stuff in person, really hits home.”
The players and cheerleaders signed autographs and took pictures with many of the patients they visited with. Falcon’s hats and memorabilia were passed out to the soldiers.
“I cannot begin to describe how impactful this visit was,” Shockley said. “The appreciation these soldiers showed us for coming up here is something that I’ll never forget. They were so appreciative of us taking time out of our week to come up here and visit with them. These soldiers are the real heroes. They are sacrificing their lives and time with their families to fight for our freedom.”
Walter Reed Army Medical Center is the largest military treatment facility in the United States and has treated nearly 8,000 service members wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The MATC opened its doors in 2007 and was designed with the latest computer and video monitoring systems to help enhance amputee and patient care.
The Falcons contingent visited with patients who were in their rooms recuperating but also visited the rehabilitation center inside the hospital. In the center, the players could see the much vigor and challenges these soldiers face. Soldiers could be seen learning how to walk again with a prosthetic leg or trying to regain feeling back in their hand after a roadside bomb nearly blew the soldier’s entire hand off.
After spending the morning at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the players spent the afternoon at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The NNMC is the only Defense Department facility capable of comprehensive complex neurocritical care for wartime traumatic brain injury patients. The players visited the three soldiers currently in the center dealing with brain trauma, while several more remained in intensive care.
“The men and women we visited with today were truly remarkable people,” Hutchins said. “There were things about this trip really surprised me. The morale the soldiers had. For everything that they have gone through and the struggles they are facing all of them were so extremely positive. It really touched my heart to see them so determined to defend our freedom even with the predicament they are in. All of them truly love the job they do and have no regrets whatsoever. This visit truly made me proud to be an American.”
