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Wasp’s Icy Plunge A Huge Success! Story by: MC3 Michael T. Forbes II e icy ocean waters of Virginia Beach washed up on the shore while thousands of people waited to plunge into the water during the 2014 Polar Plunge Winter Festival. Seven brave Sailors from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) prepared to meet their glacial doom, Feb. 8. Participants raced into the frigid waters of Virginia Beach in order to raise money for the Special Olympics. People had the choice to either be a part of a team or take the plunge on themselves. Several people decided to dress up for the occasion. Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class Benjamin Nowak, a Wasp Sailor, was one of these people. Nowak dressed up as Elvis Presley and was very excited to be a part of the Polar Plunge. “I dressed up as Elvis because I love Elvis,” said Nowak. “is is all for the Special Olympics. Our shipmates helped us raise the money to do this. ere are seven of us here today, so we were able to raise $700 for the Special Olympics.” e 2014 Polar Plunge Winter Festival helped raise 1.1 million dollars for Special Olympics Virginia, which provides year- round support to more than 13,000 Special Olympics athletes and 20,000 volunteers across the state. “Raising one million dollars for the fourth year in a row is incredible,” said Rick Jeffrey, Special Olympics Virginia president. “More importantly, though, these funds will help us to build bigger, better, more inclusive communities across the state of Virginia.” e 2014 Polar Plunge Winter Festival hosted events other than the Polar Plunge such as the Night Plunge Party, a 5K race on the boardwalk, a Pee Wee Plunge for kids 10 and under, and the Night Beach Bash. Since its inception 20 years ago, over 33,000 plungers have raised more than $7.5 million for Special Olympics Virginia. is year Wasp Sailors helped to pay the $100 per person entry fee for seven of their shipmates. Chief Air Traffic Controller John Stranahan was one of the seven Wasp Sailors to volunteer to take the icy plunge. “It was cold, my toes felt like they were going to fall off and my knees ended up being purple,” said Stranahan. “It was for a great cause and I’ll do it again; but next year I’m going to wear a costume and I’m going to have a wet suit underneath it.” Police officers, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMT) were on standby incase anyone went into shock from the icy water. Among those who were on the beach to keep participant safe were divers. e divers waited in the water for participants to jump in, keeping an eye out for anyone who may be in any kind of danger. e goal of each participant was to reach the divers and give him or her a high five. Participants would sometimes become too enthralled with the excitement and overwhelming cold temperature of the water that they would be knocked over by the waves crashing into the beach. “I made it to the divers,” said Stranahan. “en I immediately got out of the water, it was way too cold!” For more information on the annual Polar Plunge Winter Festival and how you can help with the Special Olympics, please visit www.polarplunge.com or www. specialolympics.org. AC1 Keever and ENC Ramsbottom sprint into the water during the 2014 Polar Plunge Winter Festival in order to raise money for Special Olympics, Virginia. Photo by L. Todd Spencer, e Virginian-Pilot. (From leſt to right) HM1 Palacios, CW03 Brown, CSC Knight and ACC Stranahan wait to recieve the sign into the frigid waters of Virginia Beach during 2014 Polar Plunge Winter Festival Photo by MC3 Michael T. Forbes II CTR1 Nowak celebrates aſter jumping into the icy Atlantic Ocean during the 2014 Polar Plunge Winter Festival. Photo by MC3 Michael T. Forbes II Wasp Sailors pose for a pre-plunge group photo during the 2014 Polar Plunge Winter Festival. Photo by MC3 Michael T. Forbes II
