Marine Corps News, news from Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Vets go for gold in Golden Age Games

INDIANAPOLIS — Claire Brou stared at the checkerboard in front of her, then slowly reached out to move one of her red discs.

It was game over for Brou’s opponent, Freeland Rea, 81, a World War II veteran, in the 22nd National Veterans Golden Age Games — and gold medal time for Brou, an 80-year-old partially paralyzed veteran from Ocean Springs, Miss., who spent 16 years in the Navy and Air Force.

“I still have that competitive spirit,” said Brou, one of 742 veterans taking part in the games that run through Sunday in Indianapolis. A record number of veterans 55 and older are competing this year in the games, first held in 1985, said Department of Veterans Affairs public affairs officer Jose Llamas.

Several competitors are World War II veterans in their 90s — the oldest is 97-year-old Jack Faust of California.

“A lot of the men and women have disabling injuries, but they are able to get beyond that through the competition and camaraderie of the games,” said Diane Hartmann, director of national programs and special events for VA.

Competing in her first Golden Age Games, 1991 Persian Gulf War veteran Franketta Zalaznik, 58, of Lexington, Ky., said she has been touched by the examples from older participants.

Zalaznik, who served as a nurse in the Vietnam War while in the Army and the Gulf War as a National Guard member, will participate Sunday in the air rifle and swimming competitions. She sees the games as an inspiration to younger vets returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The older guys from World War II and Vietnam really want to reach out and help these guys and girls coming back now,” she said.