Wheaton men's lacrosse team signs up to adopt American soldiers

December 21, 2006

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College men's lacrosse team has enlisted in an off-the-field assignment this holiday season, adopting a unit of 78 American soldiers stationed in Iraq through the America Supporting Americans (ASA) organization.

The Lyons have adopted E Company - the 3rd Battalion of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, which is part of the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division. The unit, based out of Fort Hood, Texas, is stationed at Forward Operations Base (FOB) Anaconda in Iraq's Salah Ah Din province.

Second-year head coach Peter Toner said the unit commander has drawn parallels between the lacrosse team and E Company. "He said we're dealing with similar things, but we know they're dealing with it on an entirely different level," said Toner. "It's eye opening for our guys, and it becomes apparent of how much a luxury it is for us to be able to play lacrosse."

With nearly 30 Lyons slated to compete this spring, the players will each write letters to two or three soldiers a couple times per month, with correspondence allowing each party to get a grasp on the similarities and differences between their lives. As Toner stated, it will also bring a sense of reality to his players.

"There could be a kid on our team who knows one of the soldiers and went to high school with him or her," said Toner, adding that the team will also send the unit miscellaneous Wheaton men's lacrosse items, from pen lights to laundry hampers.

The lacrosse team will also design T-shirts that will incorporate the Wheaton athletics logo and that of the E Company, which goes by the nickname "Rough Riders", and outfit both the unit and the Lyons with enough for each member.

Toner said the team will send out supplies following the holiday break, and that anyone from the Wheaton community and beyond is welcome to join the cause. He can be contacted at (508) 286-3906 or by visiting his office in Haas Athletic Center.

"Our guys are pumped up about getting involved," said Toner. "We want to show that we care. What we're doing on our end is easy. What they're going through is the tougher part."

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