Some elderly people take up knitting. Others prefer fishing. For a group of elderly veterans, sports and physical activity are still the primary source of entertainment. The National Veterans Golden Age Games is a sporting event open to military veterans age 55 or older and who receive health care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The games are meant to provide a fun way for aging veterans to rehabilitate and improve their quality of life. It is also a way to help the veterans cope with PTSD or physical disabilities they may have sustained in their service.
Henry Lee Preston, a javelin competitor and 64-year-old Vietnam veteran, has participated in the games eight times. Lee told Alabama.com that the games were a way for him to stay fit year-round and to connect with other older veterans from around the country. He also uses the games as a way to connect with his grandchildren, whom he takes with him when he trains in his local park.
Over 800 veterans come together to compete and share reunion stories. These former servicemembers compete in such competitions as racquetball, bowling, table tennis, dominoes and many more. This year's games will be held in Omaha, Nebraska, Aug. 8-12.