• D-Day, June 6, 1944. Norval Nelson along with 118 other American UDT
  (Underwater Demolition Team) frogmen from Force O, swam almost a mile
  under cover of darkness to Omaha Beach.  Their mission: detonate and clear the
  obstacles that enabled Allied landing craft to get close enough to allow American
  troops to win the war in Europe.
   

• Mr. Nelson suffered five serious wounds that day, yet he completed his mission
  and was only one of 18 men in his unit to return home
   

• At 92 years old, Mr. Nelson only had about 6 months left to live and he ha
  one remaining wish: to see the Navy Seal Museum in Fort Pierce, FL where he & his unit trained prior to the D-Day landing. He felt compelled to go to honor and pay his final respects to his fellow frogmen who never made it home
   

• That's when The Charity Stripe contacted the Westminster Christian basketball teams to participate in our
  Troop Dreams/Free Throws For Heroes event to make Mr. Nelson's dream come true.  Mr. Nelson and his
  best friend (Mike Natale who joined the Merchant Marines at 15 years old!!!) came to practice, helped
  rebound the balls and shared their stories of how and why freedom isn't free
   

• His TROOP DREAMS WISH CAME TRUE.  Donations raised paid round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for both Mr. Nelson & Mr. Natale in Fort Pierce, FL.  When they arrived, they were given a real HEROES WELCOME:

  • The Mayor gave them the key to the city'​

  • Several hundred flag-waving students greeted them at the Navy Seal museum

  • And Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Chuck Garfien covered the story with a 4-minute feature segment
     

• BUT THE STORY DOESN'T END THERE...

  • Mr. Nelson did pass away a few months later, leaving a huge void in the life of his best buddy, Mike Natale​ but...
    NOT FOR LONG...

  • The Westminster Christian AD and coaches made Mike Natale an honorary captain to come to any practice/game, sit on the bench and cheer on the players to create a lasting bond & connection with the players

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• Angela Walker, a disabled, wheelchair-bound Navy Veteran, may no longer have
  full use of her legs, but that didn't stop her from pursuing her dream as a singer;
   

• Ms. Walker won the singing competition at the James Lovell V.A. Center in
  North Chicago, IL and thus qualified for the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival
  in New Orleans, LA.  
   

• A couple weeks before the national competition, her computer crashed and she
  was unable to save her music and instrumentals which were critical to her rehearsals. 
  That's when The Charity Stripe contacted the Lakes HS AD & Football Coaches to "Huddle Up For A Hero"
  and raise money at a Troop Dreams Military Appreciation Game
   

• Talk about a HUGE SURPRISE.  We invited Ms. Walker to sing God Bless America and You Raise Me Up by
  Josh Groban during pre-game.  Moments later, the team came to midfield and presented her with a brand new
  Mac laptop computer.
   

• The players surrounded her, the cheerleaders and pompon squad circled her giving her hugs while the fans
  gave her a thunderous standing ovation.
   

• BUT THE STORY DOESN'T END THERE...

  • Angela won 1st place in the Rhythm & Blues category at the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival

  • And...Angela was invited to perform at the school's talent/variety show

  • It was the gift that keeps on giving and continues to inspire all

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Paraplegic Army Veteran Loses Gym Membership,

But Never Loses His Love Of Life
 

• SSGT. Wilson, confined to a wheelchair in his late 20's, lost the use of his legs from an IUD in Iraq
   

• Mitch Salzstein, Executive Director of The Charity Stripe, first met SSGT. Wilson at an Adaptive Day
  Event sponsored by the Mayor's Office of Chicago. The Charity Stripe set up a mini basketball hoop
  as part  of its Free Throws For Heroes program
   

• He was very personable and had a huge smile on his face. He loved basketball and it was obvious he
  played the game judging by his shooting form. He and Mitch formed an instant bond
   

• At the end of the event, Mitch asked him, "If an angel came down from heaven right now, and granted you one wish, what would you wish for?"  He replied, "Mitch, I shouldn't even be alive now. I lost my legs, but nearly lost my life. Everyday, I wake up in the morning and see the sun shining, that's the best wish I could ever have."
   

• After asking the same "I appreciate that, but what would you wish for" question 3 more times, getting the same response from him over and over again, , Mitch jokingly said, "Listen, if you don't tell me your wish, I'm going
  to push you and your wheelchair over."
   

• Finally, he said he wished that he still had his gym membership, something critically important to maintain his
  upper body strength to operate his wheelchair. But, it was either pay his utility bills or monthly membership dues...
  but he couldn't afford both.  Mitch asked if he explained his situation to the manager at this health club and he said,
  "No, I didn't  explain it to him.  I am responsible like everyone else and if I can't pay my monthly dues, I shouldn't be given any preferential treatment."
   

• Right then and there, we had to get his gym membership back. Mitch contacted XSports Fitness, explained
  the situation to the manager who said he had no idea about SSGT. Wilson or his situation...he just thought
  he simply stopped coming to work out
   

• BUT THE STORY DOESN'T END THERE...

  • I instructed SSGT. Wilson to go back to and schedule a day/time to "talk to the manager."  When he entered the facility, he received a "Heroes Welcome" by dozens of staff and gym members who held up signs and chanted "Welcome Back, We Missed You."
     

  • Tears flowed and SSGT. Wilson received a lifetime gym membership along with a personal trainer. 
    We can all learn valuable life lessons and gain incredible perspective from situations like this

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