A group of disabled veterans is paying tribute to 9/11 today—not at the memorial in New York, but in Yosemite National Park.
Lasting injuries and prosthetic limbs won’t hold these thirteen veterans back. They’re hiking and rock climbing to the tops of iconic peaks like El Capitan, Royal Arches, and Ranger Rock—and they’ll all reach the summit today. Some of the ascents, like El Capitan, are known to be extremely challenging even for climbers at their prime.
Kari Cobb, spokesperson from the park’s public affairs says that leading up to the event, the veterans were all brimming with excitement.
Cobb: “It really meant more than just conquering this mountain, they were doing it for their injuries, they were doing it for the other servicemen and women and they were doing it for the people that they had lost in battle, so that was really touching and really inspiring.”
The trip was organized by Paradox Sports, a company that provides athletic opportunities to people with disabilities. This is the second year the park has hosted the event.
