Wounded Warrior Project's Impact

Deborah Sampson earned a full military pension for her service in the Revolutionary War. But there’s a catch: Women weren’t allowed to serve in the war. Still, in 1782, as the Revolutionary War fought on, Deborah Sampson disguised herself as a man named Robert Shurtleff to join the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment and serve for the Patriot forces. The name, according to the American Battlefield Trust, was chosen because it was the name of her brother, who had passed away.

Ever since he was a little kid, Brian Zreliak loved putting the images in his mind onto paper. He didn’t need words to express himself, just some color and his imagination. Brian’s love of art continued. He graduated from the Pittsburgh Art Institute with a desire to work in computer animation. But in 2003, Brian felt compelled to do more and wanted to serve his country, so he joined the Army.

Sleep has a fundamental role in shaping our overall health and quality of life – helping to regulate hormones, bolster immunity, and enhance cognitive function and emotional resilience. Yet, people often overlook sleep issues as a significant health concern.

Service is uniquely engrained in all warriors, and for Caroline Fermin, communications and advocacy have always been key aspects of the meaning of service. She spent 25 years in the Marine Corps, primarily serving as a communications officer, a role she enjoyed because it allowed her to experience field time and deployments. Later, she became an adjutant, responsible for all administrative support for the commander. 

Jackie Gordon braced herself as she approached the familiar stretch of road in the Florida Keys, just past Coral Shores High School where students lined the streets in support. This was the exact spot where she fell the year before, leaving her injured and unable to complete her first Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) Soldier Ride^®.