The Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Team (WWAFT) will challenge former players of the National Football League in “A Tribute to Heroes, Game of Honor” flag football game Wednesday, Sept. 10 at Toyota Field.
The WWAFT is composed of more than 25 men and women who served in the United States military and who suffered the loss of a limb in the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan. The team’s record is 8-0 versus the former players of the NFL, having defeated NFL alumni team most recently in Philadelphia and in Tampa, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and Green Bay and at the last three Super Bowls.
More than 25 NFL alumni, led by Dallas Cowboy Hall-of-Famer Randy White, Houston Oiler great Dan Pastorini & Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams, will take on these amputee heroes. The mission statement for the team is simply to demonstrate that “the loss of a limb doesn’t mean the end of an athletic career or an active life”
“Many of us with the WWAFT were cared for here in San Antonio – at Brooke Army Medical Center and at the Center For The Intrepid – and it is a privilege for all of us amputee veterans to be able to ‘return home’ to share in this evening with San Antonio,” said BJ Ganem, USMC and WWAFT co-captain. “We want to show our appreciation to this community for all that you have done for us and to show the nation that with your help and care, amputee veterans can accomplish anything – including whupping up on these NFL alumni.”
Additionally, the tribute on 9/10 is intended to recognize all those who enlisted after 9/11, 2001, who knowingly put themselves in harm’s way to defend this nation and to also honor the sacrifice of all of the men and women of our Armed Forces, particularly all of San Antonio’s Gold Star families. The WWAFT is also proud to be able to support and bring out as their guests, all of San Antonio’s special-needs children and adults in a partnership with Morgan’s Wonderland, Gordon Hartman and the San Antonio Scorpions.
Gates at Toyota Field will open at 6 p.m. on Sept. 10. Tickets are $10/Adults, $5/Students and all members of the military (active, reserve & retired) and special needs families of San Antonio will be admitted at no charge, courtesy of Humana.
“Humana has made a $100,000 donation to the Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Team as a symbol of our support to all servicemen and servicewomen who make a timeless sacrifice for our nation’s freedom,” said Orie Mullen, president of Humana Military. “Our sponsorship of this game solidifies all that Humana does for veterans, from hiring more than 1,700 veterans and military spouses as part of our National Veterans Hiring Initiative to providing health benefits to 3 million active duty service members, retirees, and their families in TRICARE’s South Region.”
For local ticket information call (210) 426-4130.
The WWAFT is supported by Humana, the Alamo City Medical Group, Allied Institute of Medicine, the Low T Center and the Military Benefit Association. For WWAFT media inquiries, please contact Chris Visser (at 407-856-7007 or Chris.Visser@WWAFT.org). Website: woundedwarrioramputeefootballteam.org/
Randy White, Dallas Cowboys (HoF)
Dan Pastorini, Houston Oilers
Dat Nguyen, Dallas Cowboys (A&M)
D.D. Lewis, Dallas Cowboys (2 SBs)
Dave Edwards, Dallas Cowboys (2 SBs)
Dale Hellestrae, Dallas Cowboys (SMU, 3 SBs)
Steve Folsom, Dallas Cowboys (2 SBs)
Bruce Collie, SF 49ers (2 SBs, Texas-Arlington)
Lyle Blackwood, Dolphins (Churchill HS, TCU)
Mark Dodge, Texas A&M & US Army enlistee
Greg Hawthorne, Pittsburgh Steelers (Baylor, 2 SBs)
Chris Draft, Falcons (played in every WWAFT game)
Dave Vobora, Rams (Mr Irrelevant 2008 NFL Draft)
Kyle Eckel, Naval Academy & Eagles & Patriots
CLINT BRUCE, Naval Academy, SEAL Team 5