MultiVu Video Feed: Veterans From Walter Reed Army Medical Center Hosted by Vail Mountain and Community

    VAIL, Colo., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- A community founded 43 years ago by
 soldiers returning from World War II will now host wounded veterans returning
 from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.   Twenty-four soldiers, sailors,
 airmen, and marines, all recuperating from the loss of a limb (limbs) at
 Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C., will be the honored guests of
 Vail Mountain and the Vail community.  The Third Annual Vail Veterans Program
 takes place March 1-5, 2006 and provides the opportunity for the veterans to
 learn how to ski and snowboard.
     Veterans will participate in three all-day private ski and snowboard
 lessons through Vail's Adaptive Ski Program.  "For many of these veterans, the
 trip to Vail is their first adventure outside of the hospital," said Cheryl
 Jensen, event organizer for the Vail Veterans Program.  "This program is all
 about providing an inspirational experience that focuses on abilities versus
 disabilities."  Since the program's inception in 2004, more than 35 veterans
 have learned how to ski and snowboard at Vail's Adaptive Ski School.
     A grass-roots effort with countless volunteers and more than 25 local
 businesses and organizations taking part, the Vail Veterans Program has been a
 success because of the community participation.
     A hero's welcome by one hundred Gypsum Elementary students at the Vail
 Eagle Valley Regional Airport is just one of the unique aspects of the event.
 Local hotels and restaurants host the participants and their guests during
 their stay.  A highlight for many of the veterans is a homemade meal of
 lasagna served by the Vail Fire Department at the station.  "There is an
 unsaid promise to protect their families while they protect our freedom
 serving abroad.  Inviting the veterans to dinner at our home is the least we
 can do to pay tribute," said Craig Davis, President of the Vail Professional
 Firefighters Association.
     To learn more about Vail Mountain and the Vail Adaptive Ski School, please
 go to www.vail.com.
 
     Media Note:  Video footage of the Vail Veterans event will be released via
 satellite uplink on Thursday, March 2. Uplink provider: Peak Uplink, Mike
 Howard, 307-631-8688.
 
     VIDEO NEWS RELEASE COORDINATES:
     March 2, 2006
 
     Mountain Start:  1:00 PM MST        End: 1:15 PM MST
     Eastern Start:   3:00 PM EST        End: 3:15 PM EST
 
     Location:   SBS 6   Transponder: K2           KU Band
     Downlink Frequency: 11749.5 MHz     Vertical Polarity  Audio: 6.2 & 6.8
 
     FORMAT:  News Package With Extra Soundbites and B-roll.
 
     SOUNDBITES:
     * Cheryl Jensen, Event Organizer for the Vail Veterans Program
 
     B-ROLL INCLUDES: **Veterans arriving at Eagle-Vail Airport, skiing and
 Snowboarding**Brief interview with Cheryl Jensen (organizer of Vail Veterans
 Program)**
 
     VIDEO PROVIDED BY:  Vail Resorts
 
 

SOURCE  Vail Resorts