Bike ride drums up support for troops

BY COLBY FRAZIER
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Four months ago Jack Scalia was watching a television program about wounded war veterans when he decided he wanted to do more to support the troops.
Scalia said he was particularly moved by a parachuter who lost a leg in the Iraq war, but despite the injury, was completing his 55th jump.
“If he can show that kind of commitment and integrity, then I’ve got to do something,” Scalia said of his epiphany. “The men and women of the armed forces have made a sacrifice and it’s now our responsibility to do something.”
Something to Scalia meant starting Operation American Spirit, which he hopes will raise awareness and money for wounded war veterans and their families.
The first thing on his agenda was to embark on a 1,500 mile bike ride from Seattle to San Diego, which finished up its 13th day yesterday in Santa Barbara at the Veterans Affairs building on Calle Real.
Scalia plans to distribute the money generated from the ride to the Coalition to Support America’s Heroes, Wounded Warriors and the Fisher House Foundation.
Joining Scalia on the ride are John Wordin, a former professional cyclist who organized the ride and J.R. Martinez, an Iraq war veteran who sustained third degree burns over 40 percent of his body in April, 2003 when a roadside bomb ripped through his Hummer.
Martinez, who is representing the Coalition to Support America’s Heroes on the ride, said the effort isn’t about whether one is for the war in Iraq or against the war, it’s all about supporting American soldiers and their families.
He said when wounded soldiers come home, they often need financial support to help pay bills and transportation or relocation to the visit their loved ones in the hospital.
Scalia said its tough to put a finger on exactly how much money has been raised as a result of this ride, but said pledges are being accepted online and some of the stops on the ride have included fundraisers.
He said he hopes to raise $100 million in the next three years.
“We’re only four months old but I believe we’re making huge strides on this ride we’re doing,” Scalia said.
Future fundraising events include a golf tournament at Rancho Mirage on Nov. 10. Scalia, an Emmy nominated actor, said those who want to contribute can purchase shirts, cycling jerseys and bid on other memorabilia at www.operationamericanspirit.org.
Aside from fundraisers, the trio of riders have visited VA medical clinics along the way.
Scalia said he’s consistently been impressed by the level of care at the clinics and that wounded soldiers appreciate the visits as well.
“They love our support,” Scalia said. “It helps their morale.”
Though Martinez didn’t ride the 100 miles between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara yesterday, he has managed to put 30 to 40 miles in on the bike each day despite undergoing 32 surgeries at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio during a 34 month stay there.
Martinez said he hadn’t ridden a bike since he was a child, which was pretty much the same boat Scalia was in when he decided to do the ride.
Scalia and Wordin, in their red, white and blue cycling jerseys, cruised into the VA parking lot at about 3 p.m. yesterday after a long decent down Highway 154.
Though their purpose is as stone-cold serious as it gets, they could easily be mistaken as three men having a good time riding their bikes.
“I loved it,” Scalia said. “It was exciting going up 154.”
With a Coke in one hand and a bottle of water in the other, Scalia said immersing himself in helping others has helped him see through the wounds soldiers have sustained during battle.
“You don’t see the wounds anymore,” Scalia said. “You just see their spirit.”