Wounded warriors complete 'Sea to Shining Sea' journey

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jarrod R. Chavana
  • 633d Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. --  A group of wounded veterans amassed at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco May 22 for a two-month cross country ride that ended July 24 in Virginia Beach, Va.

The nearly 4,000-mile trek was called Sea to Shining Sea, and it allowed 17 veterans who've overcome life-changing injuries, such as amputation, paralyzation or traumatic brain injuries, to prove nothing can stop them.

"Everyone had to be physically able to ride the ride and mentally set to push themselves past their normal limits," said U.S. Marine Corp Major Van Brinson, a Sea to Shining Sea ride director. "The Sea to Shining Sea ride is a graphic example to people around this country that just because you have an alignment, illness or malady that if you have the right people or team around you ... people can achieve what they thought were unachievable goals."

During this 63-day ride, they battled the elements in 100-degree heat, raced pass thunderstorms and hail, traveled through deserts, and cycled over mountain passes to complete their goal. They pressed each situation as they had done to overcome their injuries.

"The doctors told me I would never walk again," said retired Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicolette Maroulis, Sea to Shining Sea wounded warrior. "During the initial assessment, I was overwhelmed. Once I realized where I was physically, I started reading up on kinesiology ... even though I didn't have much use of my legs. It gave me a better understanding of what was going on with my body. Due to a lot of hard work and great doctors, I was able to walk again.

"The 'want to do it' has to come from within you," she said. "Your ability isn't determined by other people's expectation. You have to push outside of your comfort zone, outside of your limits in order to accomplish the goals that you set out for yourself.

During an average day, the riders would wake up at 5 a.m. and be prepared for a ride that may not end until 4 p.m. During the longest day of the ride, they traveled 120 miles.

"We started out as 17 individuals with 17 different goals -- some to finish the race, some to promote recovery," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Marc Esposito, Sea to Shining Sea wounded warrior. "But the greatest part of the ride was 17 individuals transformed into 17 teammates."

Sergeant Esposito's vehicle detonated an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in May 2009, and he was told he would never walk again or at least walk with a limp.

"As a combat controller, you are taught that exceeding the standard is the standard," said Sergeant Esposito, who is stationed at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. "Everyone on this ride is exceeding the standard, and they are breaking their medical expectations. This is the message we want to send to other wounded warriors -- that it's ok ... you will have to go through some hard times if you get injured. It may hurt, but you can get back to the life you love."