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More than a dozen area veterans recently participated in the 38th National Veterans Golden Age Games, held in Salt Lake City, Utah, Aug. 24-29.
Founded in 1985, the Golden Age Games serves veterans ages 55 and older.
Through its “Fitness for Life” motto, the Golden Age Games offers athletic competitions and health-education sessions to demonstrate the value that sports, wellness, and fitness provide to assist veterans with living an active and healthy lifestyle.
Presented by VA, the Golden Age Games is a qualifying event for the National Senior Games, a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee. The event is supported each year by businesses and community supporters, with Veterans Canteen Service as the 2024 host sponsor.
“The local veterans participating in the Golden Age Games serve as powerful examples of how activity and strength are possible at every age,” said Jeffrey A. Beiler II, Lebanon VA Medical Center director.
“Our staff is proud to cheer on local veteran-athletes who embrace the ‘Fitness for Life’ mantra.”
Central Pennsylvania veterans who competed in the Golden Age Games are as follows:
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- Edwin Beckford, U.S. Air Force, Camp Hill, 75-79 age group – 1,500-meter, bronze, and 3,000-meter, bronze
- Jacques Bellairs, U.S. Navy, Wyomissing, 75-79 age group – swimming, 100-meter breaststroke, silver; 50-meter breaststroke, bronze
- Mary Bellairs, U.S. Navy, Wyomissing, 65-69 age group – shuffleboard, silver; swimming, 25-meter backstroke, silver; basketball free throw, bronze; swimming, 50-meter backstroke, bronze
- Harold Brown, U.S. Navy, Harrisburg, 80-84 age group – basketball free throw, gold; bowling, silver; horseshoes, bronze; shuffleboard, bronze
- Preston Darkes, U.S. Army, Lebanon, 75-79 age group – pickleball doubles, bronze
- Linda Lee Guzman, U.S. Army, Pine Grove, 65-69 age group – Cornhole, bronze
- Dale Hackman, U.S. Army, Lebanon, 65-69 age group – boccia doubles, fourth place; nine ball, fourth place
- Peter Heagy, U.S. Navy, Lebanon, 60-64 age group – boccia, silver; bowling, bronze; nine ball, bronze
- Steve Hornback, U.S. Army, Carlisle, 60-64 age group – pickleball mixed doubles, fourth place
- John Kessler, U.S. Navy, Mount Wolf, 55-59 age group – cycling recumbent/trike 20K, silver; boccia, bronze
- Ray Kozlusky, U.S. Navy, Lebanon, 85-89 age group – air pistol, silver; air rifle, bronze; cornhole, bronze; pickleball doubles, bronze
- Bryan McCrickerd, U.S. Army, Bethlehem, 60-64 age group – air pistol, gold; cornhole, gold; horseshoes, gold; bowling, gold; 5K handcycle, silver; air rifle, bronze
- Brad Wolfe, U.S. Navy, Harrisburg, 70-74 age group – shuffleboard, bronze
Over the course of the six-day event, each veteran competed alongside more than 800 fellow veterans and was supported by nearly 2,000 volunteers.
“Our coaches play a crucial role in the success of the National Veterans Golden Age Games,” Brittany Hook, director of the National Veterans Golden Age Games, said.
“They consist of a group of rehab therapists based at local VA Medical Centers who form and train teams of veteran athletes year-round, all while managing their daily responsibilities. These therapists assist athletes in defining and achieving goals in preparation for the event.”
Next year’s event will be held May 31–June 5 in Memphis, Tennessee. For more information, visit department.va.gov/veteran-sports/national-veterans-golden-age-games.