GENEVA, Ohio — Canton native and U.S. Army veteran Larry Bostic sits proud with five medals around his neck.
It’s been a long journey for the former police officer and federal agent.
Eight years ago, the husband and father experienced a decline in health, but not much could prepare him for his next mission.
“I had a medical procedure that ultimately put me in the wheelchair through an abscess in my spinal cord,” Bostic said.
Bostic said the years that followed were tough, and he was looking for meaning in life. But one day after talking with a therapist at the VA, he decided to join the Geneva-based SPIRE Adaptive Sports Program, and the rest is history.
“They not only taught me to do things in sports but also taught me things in life,” he said. “They’ve gotten us all together. They’ve given us the ability, friends.”
One of Bostic’s friends is Ashland native and U.S. Navy veteran Edna Byrd.
Both are two of 20 SPIRE veterans who competed against nearly 600 other veterans across the country in the National Wheelchair Games last month in Portland, Oregon.
Byrd, who competes every year, and is a pro in bocce, said the experience has helped transform her life.
“When you hide yourself like I did for so many years, it doesn’t work for you,” Byrd said. “Coming out to these are the best things that you can ever possibly do. Even if you’re not good at it, or you don’t know about it, they’ll teach you, they’ll train you.”
Bostic is thinking about participating in the winter games later this year in Colorado.
And after re-learning javelin, discus, shot put, air rifle, archery, power lifting, bowling and bocce, he said to bring on skiing.
He offered advice to wounded or disabled warriors.
“You’re going to be depressed,” Bostic said. “You’re going to have anxiety, but you can overcome that by participating in sports. The whole point of it is having fun and spending time together.”
