Keep the home fires burning: Post welcomes Special Olympics athletes

Thousands of athletes, coaches, family members and volunteers swarmed Fort Jackson May 5-7 as the 2017 South Carolina Special Olympics Summer Games were held on post.

Hundreds waited outside the Solomon Center May 5, as Special Olympian Latrice Pringle ran with the torch accompanied by Maj. Gen. Pete Johnson, Fort Jackson commander, a phalanx of law enforcement officers, and Soldiers from the 193rd Infantry Brigade.

Pringle, from Florence, South Carolina, will represent the United States in the World Winter Games. She won gold in snowboarding in this year's winter games.

When the cauldron was lit, the crowd bellowed in approval and began filing into the center for the opening ceremony. As delegates from the 13 different areas of the Palmetto State entered the arena they were met with ecstatic cheers and fist pumps from 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment Soldiers.

Fort Jackson's sponsorship of the games didn't go unnoticed to families and athletes.

"Fort Jackson is a phenomenal location to begin with -- it is kind of central for all of us," said Tammie McDaniels, from Conway, South Carolina supporting athletes from her region.

"They were extremely generous and helpful."

The Special Olympics organization made the families and athletes feel good about themselves and have a camaraderie with others.

"They may us feel like family," McDaniels said. "It makes the athletes comfortable."

Volunteers and athletes alike enjoyed themselves at the games.

"It's a really rewarding experience (to volunteer)," said Amber Pye, a recent college graduate who along with some friends served lunch at the Olympic Town in the 3-60th area. "You get to see the smiles on their faces when they come to get hot dogs, snow cones and popcorn. They are having a really good time."

Athletes and their families danced and played games at the Olympic Town during their lunch break from the games. Throughout the day, athletes competed in bowling, softball, swimming and bocce on Fort Jackson, while others competed at Blythewood High School in Track and Field events.

Outfielder and huge University of South Carolina athletics fan, Christopher Sessions said it "feels good" to win a medal at the games, but wished the Gamecocks would have been at the games. His team took first place in their division.

McDaniels, who has known Sessions since he was young, agreed saying "they need to come here and be shown the athlete's hard work."

Sessions put in a lot of work to get where he is and said he wants others to "go for it" and experience the exhilaration he gets from competing.

For Service members helping out at the games the levels of competition and camaraderie were impressive.

Lt. Col. Adam Lewis, commander of the 3-60th, lauded the "outright" effort the athletes showed. The athletes were trying their hardest to compete.

After talking to some athletes he realized they were already "getting ready for the next games."