Lakeshore welcomes heroes

A recent evening expressed gratitude and support for our nation’s injured service members and their families whose personal sacrifices make our freedom possible. A Hero’s Welcome event was hosted by Lakeshore Foundation in Homewood.

Lakeshore has been serving veterans for more than 30 years, initiating the Lima Foxtrot program in 2006 for those injured in recent conflicts. Since then, more than 1,600 injured military and their families from 44 states have benefitted from sports and recreation camps. A Hero’s Welcome is one of several events supporting Lakeshore’s program.

The event’s keynote speaker was United Service Organization President Sloan Gibson, who is leading the USO’s efforts to support wounded, ill and injured troops and their families. Special guests included three-time paratriathlon world champion and retired U.S. Army Lt. Melissa Stockwell, paralympic gold medalist and retired U.S. Navy Lt. Brad Snyder, Chief of Paralympics Charlie Huebner, Gen. James E. Livingston, and Coleen A. Boyle, PhD, of the CDC. The evening’s emcee was retired U.S. Army Sgt. Noah Galloway.

“Lakeshore, Birmingham and our state play an important role nationally in supporting our injured service members,” said Lakeshore President Jeff Underwood. “I am proud to say that Lakeshore is on the leading edge of ensuring our nation’s injured military and their families have access to life-changing opportunities on a regular basis.”