Page 6 - Aerotech News and Review 5-6-16

Veteran’s News
Overcoming challenges through ‘Face of America’ ride
friends that we meet out here, it really
by Shannon Collins DOD photograph by EJ Hersom means a lot. It’s something I plan my
DOD News vacation time around every year.”
Vietnam War Army veteran Bill Czyzewski rides a recumbent bicycle to the applause of a crowd in Gettysburg,
More than 700 cyclists, including Penn., April 24, 2016. More than 150 disabled veteran cyclists were paired amongst 600 able-bodied cyclists to ride He said he also enjoys hearing the
nearly 175 disabled veterans, rode two 110 miles from Arlington, Va., to Gettysburg over two days in honor of veterans and military members. stories from veterans from other eras.
routes — either 110 miles from Ar-
lington, Va., or 120 miles from Valley “We left May 28 and got to Virgin- recumbent bike gives him clarity. with Team Rescue 22 in memory of “It’s great to ride with everybody
Forge, Penn., — and met up in Gettys- ia Beach on July 28. It took us two “Riding a recumbent is a lot differ- the 22 veterans who take their lives and to hear the different stories from
burg, Penn., as part of World T.E.A.M. months.” ent than riding an upright bike,” he each day. World War II to Korea to Vietnam,
Sports’ annual “Face of America” ride. said. “It’s like being in a convertible to us telling our stories about Iraq to
He said he loves participating in the on a country road. I’m just with my Gonzalez said he rides with Face of them,” he said. “They learn about us,
The cyclists dealt with a bit of cold Face of America ride because now he Christian music, and I’m at peace the America for the camaraderie. and we learn about them, the differ-
rain the first day and had a few inju- can help younger veterans with their whole time.” ences in how they were treated and
ries and mechanical issues, but the sun PTSD. “This is my third year doing it, and how we’re treated. It’s a great expe-
came out, and they had nice weather He said he dedicated his Face of I come for all of the camaraderie, the rience, and it’s something that we all
for the Gettysburg finish. For former Army Sgt. Albert Gon- America ride to a fellow San Antonio brotherhood, all the support and every- share together.”
zalez, who served as a field artillery police department worker who recent- thing you get from Face of America,”
The ride is one of the largest annual specialist and has PTSD from his time ly took his life. Gonzalez was riding he said. “Being out here with all of Carl Morgan, a medically retired
noncompetitive bicycle rides in the na- in Iraq from 2004 to 2005, riding his my brothers and my friends and new Army sergeant first class computer spe-
tional capital region. It gives veterans cialist and observer controller who has
of all eras from all over the nation a spinal cord injury, said he also enjoys
with various disabilities a chance to riding alongside veterans of all eras.
meet up, make new friends and share
resources. “I’ve met some World War II vets
out here on some rides, so it’s just phe-
For Bill Czyzewski, an Army Viet- nomenal to meet all of the great histo-
nam veteran who served with the 11th ry,” he said. “You get some stories out
Armored Cavalry Regiment as a tank here, and you can see all sides. We all
loader, cycling became his rehabilita- fought for the same cause. It’s great.”
tion for his post-traumatic stress.
Morgan, who rides a hand cycle,
“I’ve been riding the past six years, said he also just enjoys riding.
and I couldn’t believe how much the
PTSD went away after I started riding “The opportunity to come out here
a bike for the first time,” he said. “It and see the countryside, this is what
was amazing.” we fought for, and to get a good look
at it firsthand, it’s great. It’s a great
Czyzewski was shot March 1, 1970, ride,” he said.
seven months after his arrival in Viet-
nam. He lost his left leg seven years The riders stopped every 10 to 20
later. He said World T.E.A.M. Sports miles along the way for 20-minute
encouraged him to do a 60-mile ride. breaks and received snacks and cheers
Then he did the Face of America ride, from volunteers and community mem-
he said, and then the next year, he bers.
went cross-country.
Autumn Schaffer, 8, daughter of
“We put our back tires in the San Nathan Schaffer, who served in the
Francisco Bay, came across the Gold- Army in Afghanistan and Iraq, and
en Gate Bridge and came right across her grandmother, Virginia Wantz,
the middle of the country,” he said. stopped by to thank the veterans with

See BIKES, Page 7

Veteran’s Resources Service members and/or Veterans Group Life Insurance 406 West 34th St.
Program: 1-800-419-1473 Kansas City, MO 64111
Veterans Administration Telephone: (816) 756-3390
www.va.gov All other VA Life Insurance Programs: 1-800-669-8477
Washington Office
Burial, Death Pension, Dependency Indemnity Compen- Special Issues: Gulf War/Agent Orange/Project Shad/Mus- 200 Maryland Ave., N.E.
sation, Direct Deposit, Directions to VA Benefits Regional tard Agents and Washington, D.C. 20002
Telephone: (202) 543-2239
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Education, Home Loan Guaranty, Medical Care and Voca- Disabled American Veterans
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6380 Cold Spring, KY 41076
The American Legion Telephone: 1-877 I AM A VET (877-426-2838)
Debt Management Center (Collection of Non-Medical www.legion.org
Debts: 1-800-827-0648 (859) 441-7300
National Headquarters
Children of Women Vietnam Veterans, Foreign Medical 700 N. Pennsylvania Street Washington Office
Program, and Spina Bifida Health Care Program: 1-877- 807 Maine Ave., S.W.
P.O. Box 1055 Washington, DC 20024
345-8179 (or) 1-888-820-1756 Indianapolis, IN 46206 Telephone: (202)554-3501
Telephone: (317) 630-1200
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of Veterans Affairs, and CHAMPVA In-House Treatment

Initiative: -800-733-8387

Education (GI Bill): 1-888-442-4551 Washington Office Vietnam Veterans of America
Health Care Benefits: 1-877-222-8387 1608 K St. N.W. www.vva.org
Veterans Crisis Line: (800) 273-TALK (800-273-8255
Washington, DC 20006 8719 Colesville Rd., Suite 100
Telephone: (202) 861-2700 Silver Spring, MD 20910

Fax: (202) 861-2786

Combat Call Center: (877) WAR-VETS (877-927-8387) Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Telephone: 301-585-4000
Life Insurance: www.vfw.org Fax: 301-585-0519

National Headquarters Toll Free: 1-800-882-1316

6 Aerotech News and Review May 6, 2016

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