On behalf of the Warrior Transition Battalion, Lt. Col. Bruce Carter, commander, accepted the first-ever Commissioner Carlos and Bonnie Leon Resilience Award during a prayer breakfast held in honor of military personnel and veterans at the Radisson Hotel Oct. 10.
The prayer breakfast was the El Paso County commissioner's third annual, and Carter spoke about the WTB mission. Carter also introduced retired Sgt. Mark Lee Anthony Deleon, who shared his story about recovering in the WTB.
"Thank you for inviting me," Deleon said. "It is an honor for me and my family to be here today."
Deleon explained how he received injuries in Afghanistan, and shared how he felt lost when he didn't know what to expect when he came home.
"You wake up one morning and your life has changed," Deleon said. "I learned that it's not what you can't do, but you look forward to what you can do. I am truly blessed to have a wife who was there for me. I thank the WTB and WTU for never giving up on me. They never let me quit. They had the right program set in place not only for myself, but for my wife, and they made it easier."
With the help of the WTB, Deleon beat the odds and retained his walking ability. He credits his recovery and progress to the friends he made at the WTB and the support of his family.
"I am truly blessed to be able to stand here and be able to pass on to others that are in the same position as I was what I have learned," Deleon said. "Maybe one chapter has closed in my life, and another has opened where I can help others out there."
The prayer breakfast also had Capt. Ron Gooding and the Del Sol Band play a few songs honoring the attending wounded warriors. The music helped close the prayer breakfast and allowed attendees to come to the stage to honor the wounded warriors.
Carter thanked Leon and his wife for the award on behalf of the WTB.
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