OCR Text |
Show March 14, 1996 Hilltop Times 15 Helping with the Special Oftj mm The smiles make "I wouldn't want to compete against Riley!" Yarnes said. "He'd beat me too by Elisa Fisher Hilltop Times staff bad!" On March 1, volunteers from the 649th Munitions Squadron put down their explosives and spent the day lending a hand to participants in the Utah Special Olympics Winter Games. Hill troops helped with skiing at Snowbasin and bowling at the Hilltop Lanes by directing participants and keeping score. After months of hard work and preparation by the athletes, the most important job the volunteers could do was to help athletes stay motivated and feel good about their accomplishg ments. TSgt. Wong lost his voice from cheering so loudly while he was helping with team bowling. Amn. Noal Yarnes assisted children with severe disabilities in individual bowling competitions. One of the athletes Yarnes helped, Riley Wall of Salt Lake, won a gold medal after bowling 115 and 121. cross-countr- y Wai-Min- Amn. Noal Yarnes, 649th Munitions Squadron, a young friend. , - talks bowling strategy with l''-- - - (R.ght) Riley Wall uses , . - Vpt0UShhi a gold ball If Q 1' II -- fl medal. f wn. " iftX '" Vj& rf." I j--Z f 7' I,f, l j i! y fV fty Of- , . ,,nl SrA. James Skidmore had worked with the Special Olympics when he was stationed at Spangdhalem, Germany, and was eager to be involved at Snowbasin. "It really feels great to watch them come through," said Skidmore. "You see a big smile and it makes you feel good because you know that you helped make that smile. Even if you haven't ever done something like this before, you should volunteer." Volunteering for the Special Olympics involves more than keeping score and cheering, though. Volunteers were required to attend a training program outlining their specific roles in the program. The program also focuses on the rights of the athletes and coaches. All of the volunteers felt that the Special Olympics was a wonderful way to spend some time helping others and would gladly do it again. V m ( M' J it all worthwhile - round of high fives was in order for ' (Above) A ' volunteers and athletes alike. (Left) ALL - STR-I-I-I-K- " ' JL" ' ' sx Excitement and smiles run high a,te some hard work' 1 f r ' Wong of the 649th Munitions Squadron shares the feeling of TSgt. a job well done. Wai-Min- g V t " 1 Photos by A.B. Russell |