Closter Recreation Commission is pleased to announce that the USA Patriots Amputee Softball Team will be visiting Closter on Memorial Day weekend 2023. There will be two charity softball games, on Saturday, May 27th (7pm) and on Sunday, May 28th (1pm), in support of the USA Patriots Kids Summer Camp where they entertain “like bodied children” for a week long experience of empowering their abilities.
Here is a news clip of what the USA Patriots missions is about.
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Closter Recreation Commission is pleased to announce that the USA Patriots Amputee Softball Team will be visiting Closter on Memorial Day weekend 2021. We are moving forward with our plans for a charity softball game on Saturday, May 29th in support f the USA Patriots summer camp where they entertain “like bodied children” for a week long experience of empowering their abilities.
WWAST USA Patriots Softball Game
Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the gate. Saturday, June 1st, 7:30pm (1st pitch)
George Potterton LL Field Harrington Ave, Closter If you cannot attend, please consider purchasing tickets which will be distributed to Veterans in our communities. |
Click the buttons on the left to pay by credit card (via CommunityPass), or mail in the form along with your check. Please create an account in CommunityPass, select "WWAST" at the bottom of Browse Activities next to Closter Recreation. If you need assistance, please contact [email protected]. |
CLOSTER to host
Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team & Game
Saturday, June 1, 7:30pm
WWAST USA Patriots Softball Game
Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the gate. Saturday, June 1st, 7:30pm (1st pitch)
George Potterton LL Field Harrington Ave, Closter If you cannot attend, please consider purchasing tickets which will be distributed to Veterans in our communities. |
PBA Officer of the Year
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Click the buttons on the left to pay by credit card (via CommunityPass), or mail in the form along with your check. Please create an account in CommunityPass, select "WWAST" at the bottom of Browse Activities next to Closter Recreation. If you need assistance, please contact [email protected].
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Sponsorship Letter
| Sponsorship Letter |
A word from Jim Oettinger, Rec Commission Director
In the early and mid 1960’s, then Closter’s Recreation Director, George Potterton brought the KING AND HIS COURT to Closter to play against local Men’s Softball teams. These events which featured the iconic Eddie Feigner and 3 talented “showmen athletes” brought crowds estimated at 2000 people to Closter’s Memorial Park. These games were part staged, and part very competitive exhibition softball games, left lasting impressions upon the residents of the town especially young children who remember these games today………
Eddie Feigner has since passed away and there aren’t any barnstorming teams like this out there any more…….Yet there is…….
We are lucky to have found the Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball Team (known now as the USA Patriots Softball team). They have NEVER played in Bergen County or the surrounding areas, and the closest that they have played in our area is South Hampton NY and Fort Dix NJ.
Please take the time to check out the links below various news videos about these courageous men and women on the attached word document. (These links might load slowly) but after viewing these, I think you will agree that this game will be a tremendous event for our community(s). And we will have the opportunity to help out this great organization with their camp for young children.
As we exit the holiday season, we were all touched by the community toy drive that the local police PBA ran and has run for over 30 years. This event encompasses true volunteerism and consists of many different groups of people that volunteer their time. The community spirit and the tireless work that these men and women give for such a great cause is heartwarming. We would like to make this event in June 2019 a similar affair. Organizations pulling together to make the world we live in a better place. Even in our small community.
We are raising funds for these Brave Men and Women to come to our community and play a team of local players. We need sponsors and donations to cover the USA PATRIOTS airfare and hotel accommodations. In addition, our goal is to make a sizable donation to their camp for kids with amputations. We feel this is a great way to give back to these USA PATRIOTS for their service and their sacrifice. Please consider donating through the DONATE HERE button link on top of the page.
In addition to raising money for the worthy cause that the US Patriots stand for, 2019 is the 100th anniversary of the Closter American Legion Post Leroy S Mead post 111. We are going to recognize this organization and our great veterans who have given so much for our country.
Eddie Feigner has since passed away and there aren’t any barnstorming teams like this out there any more…….Yet there is…….
We are lucky to have found the Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball Team (known now as the USA Patriots Softball team). They have NEVER played in Bergen County or the surrounding areas, and the closest that they have played in our area is South Hampton NY and Fort Dix NJ.
Please take the time to check out the links below various news videos about these courageous men and women on the attached word document. (These links might load slowly) but after viewing these, I think you will agree that this game will be a tremendous event for our community(s). And we will have the opportunity to help out this great organization with their camp for young children.
As we exit the holiday season, we were all touched by the community toy drive that the local police PBA ran and has run for over 30 years. This event encompasses true volunteerism and consists of many different groups of people that volunteer their time. The community spirit and the tireless work that these men and women give for such a great cause is heartwarming. We would like to make this event in June 2019 a similar affair. Organizations pulling together to make the world we live in a better place. Even in our small community.
We are raising funds for these Brave Men and Women to come to our community and play a team of local players. We need sponsors and donations to cover the USA PATRIOTS airfare and hotel accommodations. In addition, our goal is to make a sizable donation to their camp for kids with amputations. We feel this is a great way to give back to these USA PATRIOTS for their service and their sacrifice. Please consider donating through the DONATE HERE button link on top of the page.
In addition to raising money for the worthy cause that the US Patriots stand for, 2019 is the 100th anniversary of the Closter American Legion Post Leroy S Mead post 111. We are going to recognize this organization and our great veterans who have given so much for our country.
OUR TEAM
The USA Patriots, formerly known as the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team (WWAST), is a 501(c)(3) public charity whose mission is to bring athletic and like-minded veteran amputees together to promote the benefits of inclusive sport and therapeutic recreational activities, to inspire and motivate communities of people, to support children with physical challenges, and to operate as a vehicle that offers national opportunities for continued service to our country.The team is comprised of competitive, athletic veterans who have lost limbs in combat and non-combat related accidents. Some are still in the service; others are attending college thanks to the Post-9/11 GI Bill while others have moved on to new careers. We now travel the country playing able-bodied teams in competitive and exhibition softball games, bringing our special brand of softball, courage, and inspiration. Organizations such as MLB Network have noted the journey we are on. If you haven’t seen it, here is a link:
https://www.mlb.com/video/wounded-warrior-amputee-softball/c-742150183?tid=6479266
Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Video
OUR PRIORITIES
These athletes are examples of amputees who continue to push the limits of modern prosthetics. Of course, our dream would be the return of our soldiers from harm’s way without the loss of life or limb. Until such a time, our goal is to support and honor our veterans’ sacrifices, and to show others that life without a limb is limitless.
In addition, the team host an annual Kids Camp where we bring in 20 children (between 8-12 years old) with amputations or loss of limbs for a week-long camp where our team members serve as coaches and mentors. The team pays all expenses for the 20 children and one guardian. Our Kids Camp for 2019 will be held in Virginia Beach, VA from July 27 to August 4. The video below will show the amazing power of putting our Veteran Amputees on a field with children who are also experiencing life without limbs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=tyLbJZaBywg
2015 WWAST Kids Camp Video
With the campers and veterans growing such closer bonds throughout the years, we have also added an Alumni Kids Camp to our priorities. Alumni camp has reunited our players with families who attended one of our previous annual Kids Camps. Here is a video from the camp:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5X871uMoYw
Wounded Warriors Softball Amputee Alumni Kids Camp Video
Because many of our players have spent time at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, we also raised funds to provide equipment that may not be in the hospital budget. In the past, we donated new equipment to update the physical therapy room. We plan on expanding these donations to other military Medical Centers.
Visit Us!
Website // www.thewwast.org
Facebook & Instagram // @USAwwast
