Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Vann | Army Lt. Col. Alexander Conyers, 525th Military Police Battalion commander, and...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — Something burns deep inside of us all; a fire that once ignited cannot be extinguished. It is the Flame of Hope. The feeling of love, compassion, hope and remembrance that we feel is expressed in different forms.
The New Jersey fundraising team for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics came to participate in the torch run at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Dec. 12. Residents and military personnel were able to sign up for the event as individual runners or for the team relay.
Nine teams participated in the run: the 525th Military Police Battalion, Joint Task Force Guantanamo Headquarters Command Element, the Office for the Administrative Review of the Detention of Enemy Combatants, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, JTF Public Affairs Office, Marine Corps Security Force Company, Commission Support Group, the 474th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron and the Criminal Investigation Task Force teams.
The 10-mile run started at the Northeast Gate and ended at Phillips Dive Park, with each team running approximately 1.1 miles.
"I am a proud supporter of the Special Olympics," said Navy Chief Petty Officer Jillian Easley, a member of the Commission Support Group. "I was active with the Special Olympics for three years straight, when I was stationed in Hawaii."
Marine Corps Lt. Col. Sylvia Antonino, JTF J-6 (communications systems) director, ran the entire 10 miles. An active supporter of the Special Olympics, she continues to help in any way she can, whether at home or abroad.
"The Special Olympics has always been a favorite of mine; this is a great opportunity for me to show my support." said Antonino.
Some people ran to give support, while others ran for reasons more personal, like Army Lt. Col. Mary Anna Foxx, staff joint secretary for JTF Guantanamo, the mother of a special needs child.
Foxx, having been exposed to radiation early in her career before giving birth to her daughter, uses this as a way to give back and give hope to others.
"I did this to be an inspiration to troops who are going through issues in their lives," Foxx said.
A New Jersey native, Special Olympian Robert Fredericks and two New Jersey Port Authority police officers came to Guantanamo Bay to help participate and deliver a message about the Special Olympics.
"The Special Olympics is a year-round sports training," said Fredericks. "It is for people with intellectual disabilities, not mental retardation. We don't use the 'R' word, we're trying to steer people away from saying that."
Fredericks, who is autistic, competes in four events: volleyball, floor hockey, basketball and track, with the latter being his strongest event. Since 1986, Fredericks has been involved with sports, and now runs in the 100 meters, 200 and the 4x100 relay races.
"I was honored to be part of such a momentous occasion while serving here in Guantanamo. I am glad that the Special Olympics torch is reaching international sites," said Easley.
All proceeds from this event will go to support the Special Olympics Team U.S.A.
For more information on the Special Olympics, visit www.specialolympics.org.
| Date Taken: | 12.18.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.21.2009 17:25 |
| Story ID: | 43016 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 253 |
| Downloads: | 221 |
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