This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Bowie Resident Coaches Veterans in Sports, Recovery and Life

Bowie Veteran offers guidance to repatriated veterans through sports.

Sophie Gadgets, Neighbor

Posted Fri, Nov 11, 2011 at 7:12 am ET|Updated Fri, Nov 11, 2011 at 1:44 pm ET

For Billy Demby, working with disabled veterans is more than just a good thing to do—he knows how it can actually save a life. A veteran himself, Demby lost both his legs in Vietnam and, like many veterans returning home from war today, was without employment, without limbs and without hope.

It was only through support of his fellow veterans and programs like Disabled Sports USA that Demby was able to regain his hold on life. “When I first got involved in disabled sports years ago they took me skiing,” Demby shares.” They got me a pair of legs and took me to Colorado Springs where they introduced me to other disabled veterans who were successful.”

Currently, Demby is working as the coach for the Wheelchair Basketball Team at Walter Reed. In his role as mentor, coach and comrade, Demby helps repatriated veterans acquire the confidence through competitive sports that will help them to readjust to civilian life. The team Demby coaches competes locally and nationally. The more work Demby and others do with disabled veterans the more work that remains.

Find out what's happening in Bowiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While sports help veterans to regain their identity as competitors and fully functioning members of society, the high unemployment rate for veterans only serves to set them back. Current statistics relative to unemployment rates for veterans are as high as 12% which is 3% higher than the national average for the general population. The recently passed Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011, or VOW Act, will address these depressing statistics. The legislation passed the House 418-6 with what has become rare - overwhelming bipartisan support.

Unlike the attitudes and rebuff that Demby faced when he returned shattered and wounded from Vietnam more than 40 years ago, today’s veterans are more broadly accepted and supported. “When you go to any war and come back you have to realize that you are different,” Demby offers. Now that the VOW Act has passed let’s hope that his work to help restore confidence in these veterans will better prepare them for the increased employment opportunities that await them.