I’ve been getting to know the awesome people at Special Olympics this year, and I’ve been incredibly taken by the amazing work that they do providing an experience of equality for the special needs population around the world.
Special Olympics Vermont’s Chris Bernier, myself and one of my new friends before the Opening Ceremonies. Photo: Ben Sarle
The Vermont Chapter invited me to be the guest of honor at the Summer Games Opening Ceremonies and since I was in my home Green Mountain State, the invitation worked out perfectly! One of my brothers is special needs, so I feel a deep connection in my heart to participate and be one of the Special Olympics guests and speakers.
Team Maine took the drive down to Vermont to be part of the games.
It has been a while since I’ve given a speech, but I felt right at home there, especially since every other sentence, I got a nice round of applause! I really had no idea how cool the ceremony would be…they had a bunch of very talented people come in to perform and make it memorable, from a Zumba dance, to cheerleading, martial art black belts, and Rosie Newton, the most insanely gifted 11 year old singing the national anthem (she sang for the Redsox at Fenway park)! I was blown away, the energy of the whole event was so high and inspirational.
When it was my turn to take the microphone, I was honored to be able to address the athletes in attendance, and then the coolest part was, I got to announce the three Vermont Athletes who would be going to South Korea to compete at the Special Olympics World Winter Games. The crowd went wild when I announced them, especially when I got to gift Larry, the snowboarder, with a brand new Burton Snowboard and Anon goggles to compete with! His mom told me afterward, with tears in her eyes, that he had “never had a new snowboard before” !. The coolest thing is the fact that I will actually get to watch Larry compete on his snowboard in Pyeong Chang South Korea this February, cause I will be there too! I love the Special Olympics, they’re such a cool organization. You can learn more about all the great things they’re doing and ways to volunteer in your area at specialolympics.org
Photo: Ben Sarle
Larry will be competing on Team USA for snowboarding at the Special Olympics World Winter Games
