Photo By Spc. Shameka Edwards | Soldiers and civilians from the Fourth Infantry Division and Fort Carson gathered Oct....... read more read more
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"The day you tell a man in the military you can't, is the day you open the door for him to prove you wrong," said retired U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dave Roever, guest speaker at Fort Carson's 2009 Equal Opportunity Team observance of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October.
Roever, a minister and public speaker said he travels the country, has been to Iraq five times, and visited the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Afghanistan, speaking to wounded service members motivating them to never lose sight of their dreams.
The Mountain Post Equal Opportunity Team hosted the NDEAM event at the Elkhorn Conference Center Oct. 19.
"The numbers of disabled employees are increasing so the observance [by the EO team] is long overdue," said Sgt. 1st Class Bill Shipman, Equal Opportunity advisor, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Special Forces Group.
"The Army is changing, and the goal is to keep wounded warriors inside the force," he added.
"Most people with disabilities, if you give them a chance, they appreciate it; they try harder and go all out even more so than those not injured," said Col. Jim Pasquarette, 4th Inf. Div. deputy commanding general-support.
The Department of Defense goes out of its way to hire service members and civilians with disabilities, he added.
Charlotte Spencer, Warrior Transition Unit Family Readiness Support assistant, said every family in the WTU could benefit from employment consideration because of the challenges Soldiers and their families face.
"Roever is an expert at surviving challenges and helping others through their challenges," Spencer said addressing Roever's commitment to helping wounded service members.
During his speech, Roever told Soldiers and civilians about the burns that cover more than 80 percent of his body.
"I'm proud of my scars and stripes," Dan said, referencing the wounds he suffered while serving during the Vietnam War.
"I could have sat back for the rest of my life and watched television through my toes after I was injured, or I could have gotten up and done something about it," Roever said to encourage wounded Soldiers not to let their disabilities define them.
After his speech Roever turned the floor over to Kathy Wampler who sung "Hero" to an audience of 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson Soldiers and civilians.
Wampler, a singer in Roever's entourage, said she has traveled with him for more than 19 years, following his speeches with songs of encouragement for wounded warriors.
Roever and his wife Brenda are co-founders of Eagles Summit Ranch; Roever Learning and Resource Center, near Westcliffe, Colo., where wounded warriors are trained in various fields to help others through their journey of healing.
Dan ended his address by telling those in attendance to "Hire those that are impaired. Let them know that we are not through with them, by putting them to work."
| Date Taken: | 10.19.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 11.04.2009 14:51 |
| Story ID: | 41086 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 112 |
| Downloads: | 94 |
This work, 'Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation,' Mountain Post holds NDEAM observance, by SPC Shameka Edwards, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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