The Harvicks and Ron Hornaday Visit The Injured Troops at Walter Reed

Kevin Harvick Incorporated co-owners Kevin and Delana Harvick, along with Ron Hornaday made a special visit to Walter Reed Medical Center to experience first hand all the services their sponsor the Veterans of Foreign Wars offers to our Soldiers and Veterans.

They were met by Walter Reed's commander general, Maj. Gen. Carla Hawley-Boland and accompanied by VFW National Commander Glen Gardener.

As the group toured the hospital, they visited the injured soldiers, signed autographs, posed for pictures and experienced all the services the VFW provides to our troops.

"This is an opportunity very few people get to experience," said Kevin Harvick.

"I am very proud of our affiliation with the VFW and all the programs they offer to our veterans and their families. I was able to personally say thank you to some our country's finest men and women who have given so much for all of us. This visit was an eye-opening experience at how far medical research has come and it was truly an honor to be able to meet and talk with these brave men and women".

Both the Harvicks and Hornaday, traded stories with the patients sharing their stories and talking about racing.

"I could listen to these guys and gals talk all day," Harvick said. 

"Just hearing about their experiences is amazing, it helps you understand what true courage and loyalty is all about".

Hornaday who a couple of years ago, visited the troops Irag agreed with his boss.

"I really value our relationship with the VFW, it is through our affiliation with them that we got the opportunity to come to places like this," said Hornaday.

"It is incredible to listen to the stories and hear how desperately these patients want to get well only to rejoin their battalion. This visit was a real honor. I got the opportunity to shake hands with true heroes. I am so thankful for each and every person in this hospital, not only the patients but the doctors and nurses who are taking care of them. A visit like this really makes you proud to be American."

The Army on the visit took a minute to honor both Hornaday and the Harvicks with the Freedom Team Salute commendations in recognition of their support of our nations soldiers.

The commendations were signed by Army Secretary Pete Geren and Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr..

The program was started in 2005, to formally recognize individuals both within civilian and military communities that actively support both the Army and its soldiers.

On a side note, in 2009 the Walter Reed Medical Center will mark it's 100 year servicing our wound men and women.

They currently have 30 inpatients and over 680 outpatients all are Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Since 9/11, more than 10,000 current war servicemen and women have been through the hospital, which is scheduled to merge with the National Navel Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., in 2011.

Source: kevinharvickinc.com

Photo Credit: racingone.com