US Defense Dept: 'America Supports You' program...ski FREE at Vail

[diamond14]

a subset of the DOD 'happy iraqi' photos is the NEW and IMPROVED "happy amputee" photos....bush* spinning wildly....

WOW !....join now...and you too can SKI FREE AT VAIL when you return....all part of the US Defense Departments "America Supports You" program :puke:




Iraq war veteran U.S. Marine L/Cpl Jeff Sanders of Mifflinburg, PA (R) is held back from going to fast by instructor Ruth Demuth as they take a run in Vail, Colorado February 26, 2005. Sanders lost his leg when wounded by a roadside bomb in Iskandariyah, Iraq last September. Sanders, who has only been walking again for 2 1/2 months, was one of several vets invited to the Vail ski area for free private ski and snowboard lessons over the weekend as part of the U.S. Department of Defense's 'America Supports You' program. REUTERS/Rick Wilking



Iraq war veteran U.S. Marine L/Cpl Jeff Sanders of Mifflinburg, PA falls to the snow while learning to ski in Vail, Colorado February 26, 2005. Sanders lost his leg when wounded by a roadside bomb in Iskandariyah, Iraq last September. Sanders, who has only been walking again for 2 1/2 months, was one of several veterans invited to the Vail ski area for free private ski and snowboard lessons over the weekend as part of the U.S. Department of Defense's 'America Supports You' program. REUTERS/Rick Wilking






An artificial leg stands against a fence with skis at the Vail, Colorado ski resort February 26, 2005. Vail was hosting amputee U.S. military veterans of the Iraq war for a weekend of free private ski and snowboard lessons as part of the U.S. Department of Defense's 'America Supports You' program. REUTERS/Rick Wilking



Iraq war veteran U.S. Army Sgt. Orlando Gill (R) holds onto his snowboard instructor Mark Summers, from Australia, as they go down a slope in Vail, Colorado February 26, 2005. Gill lost his leg below the knee when a RPG hit him but did not explode last October in Ramadi, Iraq. Gill was one of several vets invited to the Vail ski area for free private ski and snowboard lessons over the weekend as part of the U.S. Department of Defense's 'America Supports You' program. REUTERS/Rick Wilking




Iraq war veteran U.S. Army Sgt. Orlando Gill lies in the snow after crashing on his snowboard in Vail, Colorado February 26, 2005. Gill lost his leg below the knee when a RPG hit him but did not explode last October in Ramadi, Iraq. Gill was one of several vets invited to the Vail ski area for free private ski and snowboard lessons as part of the U.S. Department of Defense's 'America Supports You' program. REUTERS/Rick Wilking



Iraq war veteran U.S. Army Sgt. Orlando Gill (2nd L) standing on a snowboard yells to a friend while on the 'magic carpet' lift for beginner skiers and boarders in Vail, Colorado February 26, 2005. Gill lost his leg below the knee when a RPG hit him but did not explode last October in Ramadi, Iraq. Gill was one of several vets invited to the Vail ski area for free private ski and snowboard lessons over the weekend as part of the U.S. Department of Defense's 'America Supports You' program. At left is Gill's instructor Mark Summers, an Australian now living in Vail. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

[alittlelark]

1. I don't know what to say.....

Free skiing is great, the 'photo - op' is just sooo disturbing.

[diamond14]

2. sadly, WE THE TAXPAYERS pay for all this exploitation from the DOD..

military recruiters NEED these photos to show young and stupid guys how fun it all is !!!! AND 'America Supports You'....join today !

added plus...congressional reps can show these photos around....proving that 'America Supports You'.....lending the full bush* PR-spin to claims that congress CUT OUT VA BENEFITS, and SLASHED funding for returning Vets....


the DOD paid for this PHOTO-OP, with OUR tax money....hey, be happy...happy amputees...ski FREE at Vail...


where's the OUTRAGE ???

[alittlelark]

3. It's here, and now.

I'm thrilled that the Repug owner of Vail lets them ski free, but that 'PHOTO-OP' sh*t is just sooo wrong.

[diamond14]

4. it's not VAIL that offered FREE skiing...that's OUR tax money that

paid for the lift tickets/lessons/rentals...and it came from the US Department of Defense MONEY....under their program "America Supports You"


it's another insane bush* PUBLIC RELATIONS trick...to keep YOU happy about the bush* perpetual wars....


these photos are all over the WEB as public relations, and will be in newspapers all over America on Monday morning...time to call YOUR congressional reps and tell them to STOP EXPLOITING our injured Veterans....you'll find one of these 'happy amputee' photos on your politicians desk when you go over to visit and express your concern....


I plan to complain to my congress reps as soon as their offices open...

[alittlelark]

7. I love the concept... hate the 'propaganda opportunity'

Exploitation of wounded veterans is a given. It has been done in every war. This has an extra layer of Rovian SLIME on it.

[MileHiStealth]

5. Do they get half off on the ski rental ?

[diamond14]

6. NO, the whole thing is paid for by the Department of Defense....

Since it's DOD, Vail probably DOUBLED the bill....full price hotels in Vail, private lessons, equipment rentals, lift tickets, food....all for the pentagoon's PUBLIC RELATIONS PHOTO-OPS....you'll see these photos in all congress reps offices, and at every military recruiting station all across America....


it would have been a LOT cheaper to go to the program at Winter Park....but certainly not as 'HIGH VALUE' exploitation for DOD Publicity.....few know of the "Ski Program for People with Disabilities at Winter Park"....but EVERYONE recognizes VAIL...

and specialized equipment for amputees rents for way more than regular stock skis....it's all custom made stuff....sadly....no discounts for only one leg...

[alittlelark]

8. I don't know whether to laugh or cry at that remark.

...I appreciate sick humor, but.... yeah

[Enquiringkitty]

9. "Thank you DOD for teaching me to ski without the leg I left in

Iraq but what are you going to do to thank me for the nightmares and guilt and all the other symptoms of Delayed Stress I will carry for you?"