EFMP Olympians all winners: Competition builds sense of togetherness

The Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation and Army Community Service launched its first Exceptional Family Member Program Olympics June 7 on Fort Benning's Stewart-Watson Field.

The event was open to EFMP Family members ages 6 to 18, said Capt. Shawn Toher, an EFMP Olympics coordinator. Those who participated included children with severe asthma to learning disabilities and partial paralysis.

The EFMP Olympics was formed to build a sense of togetherness among EFMP Families, he said.

The day's events ignited after 8-year-old Elijah Edwards, who was accompanied by his mother, lit the EFMP Olympic flame. Elijah is the son of Amanda and Pfc. Patrick Clere of MEDDAC.

"(Elijah) embodies the spirit of the flames," said Al Gelineau, DFMWR director.

Gelineau said for the previous six to eight weeks, Elijah, as well as the other athletes, trained hard and worked on the skill sets needed for the various events.

The Olympic events included bocce ball, rock climbing, running events, aquatics, bowling and powerlifting.

Events were broken down by age group and categorized by disability, Toher said.

He said during registration athletes received colored coded T-shirts and wristbands.

Ken Wetherill, the game's host, said the colored wristbands coincided with each sport.

"(The wristbands) are so the athlete can show off a little bit; that they participated in the games," Wetherill said.

Each athlete was taught how to interpret the rules of their sport, he said.

Not knowing what bocce ball was, 12-year-old Alyssa DeMont's interest was piqued. She is the daughter of Sgt. 1st Class Frank DeMont of 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment.

"As soon as we found out they were doing bocce ball, we went home and (found it on) YouTube," Frank DeMont said. "She liked it."

Alyssa, who also participated in bowling and aquatics, revealed her technique for bocce ball.

"Get down low and throw it closest to the pallino," she said.

The pallino is the target ball, at which the players aim their bocce balls to win.

DeMont said Alyssa is on a bowling team off post and has been bowling for nearly two years.

Princess Simmons, 16, a bowling, rock climbing and running participant and daughter of Melissa and Master Sgt. Daniel Towns of the 98th Training Division, said she trained for the running events by going to track practice.

Melissa Towns said volunteers who trained with Simmons were encouraging and gave that extra push, letting her daughter know she could do it.

"They called her the Road Runner," she said.

Melissa Towns spoke about the opportunity the event offers EFMP athletes.

"I think it is a great opportunity for the kids to display their abilities in spite of their disabilities," she said.

When the events came to an end, each athlete received a participation medal, Toher said.

"We look forward to doing this again next year," said the Maneuver Center of Excellence command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Guden.