Army Veteran Chris Marago was the guest speaker at Salem Rotary Monday, Sept. 8.
Chris enlisted in the Army in 1995 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Chris served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He suffered severe injuries when an IED exploded and blew up the Humvee they were in. After numerous operations, and much rehabilitation, he began participating in the Warrior Games in 2022 in Colorado Springs.
The Department of Defense Warrior Games is an annual event, first held in 2010, that celebrates the resilience and dedication of military service members. The DoD Warrior Games serves to enhance the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, ill, and injured service members by providing them exposure to adaptive sports. Participation in the DoD Warrior Games represents the culmination of a service member’s involvement in an adaptive sports program and demonstrates the incredible potential of wounded, ill, and injured service members through competitive sports.
Chris participated in cycling, swimming, archery and track and field. He retired from active duty after serving 29 years, 2 months, and 2 days in the Army.
Chris is proudest of his Army Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) which is awarded to U.S. military members for outstanding, non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the United States. While not for combat, the MSM is a significant decoration for consistently exceeding expectations over multiple assignments or for successful command tours.
Thanks to Rotarian Ty Richards and Program Chair Jessica Booker for hosting our speaker.
