The 2015 World Police & Fire Games is offering complimentary round trip shuttle transportation service to most of the sporting venues for credentialed athletes, family, and friends from the Games transportation hubs. 

This unique opportunity allows riders direct, non-stop service from one of 9 transportation hubs located throughout Northern Virginia to the assigned sport venues via contracted local school and transit busses. Each bus will be assigned to a specific sport venue site.  The transportation hubs are strategically located in close proximity to sport venues and hotel clusters made available through the Fairfax 2015 World Police & Fire Games Accommodations Team.  Those wishing to utilize the transportation service are responsible for getting to the transportation hub (at own cost) which will service their selected sport venue.

Athletes are strongly encouraged to make their housing accommodations nearest to their sports for easy access to the transportation shuttle hubs and reduced travel time to the sport venues.  Note * There is no connecting service between the transportation hubs*

All passengers using Fairfax 2015 shuttles and motor coaches must be have their credentialed WPFG Fairfax2015  ID with them to board the vehicle.

 

HUB 1: 18th & Eads Street, Arlington, VA  22202    

Ice Hockey - Div I & Women’s

 

HUB 2: Country Inn & Suites, 2621 Prince William Parkway, Woodbridge, VA 22192    

Archery 3-D,  Archery Field,  Cycling Mountain Bike,  Cycling Road Race,  Cycling Time Trial,  Ice Hockey - 35+, 45+,  Orienteering Classic,  Rifle Large Bore    

 

HUB 3: Fair Lakes S/C 12500 Fair Lakes Cir, Fairfax, VA 22033    

Baseball - GMU and finals,  Basketball 3x3,  Basketball 5x5,  Bodybuilding,  Boxing,  Judo,  Orienteering Sprint,  Submission Grappling,  Swimming,  Tennis,  Track & Field,  Tug of War,  Volleyball Indoor,  Wrestling    

 

HUB 4: Herndon High School  700 Bennett St, Herndon, VA 20170    

Bench Press,  Bowling,  Ice Hockey - Div II,  Half Marathon,  Honor Guard, Pocket Billiards,  Push Pull,  Rowing Indoor,  Table Tennis, Wrist Wrestling    

 

HUB 5: Holiday Inn Dulles Airport 45425 Holiday Drive, Sterling, VA, 20166    

Badminton,  Cycling Hill Climb,  Soccer Indoor,  Soccer Outdoor

 

HUB 6: Lerner Town Square at Tysons II, 8025 Galleria Dr, Tysons, VA    

Flag Football,  Karate,  Tae Kwon Do

 

HUB 7: Metrotech Plaza, Chantilly, VA 20151    

Baseball - Westfields,  Biathlon,  Cycling Sprint,  Paintball,  Pistol - Police Action Pistol,  Pistol - Police Pistol Combat,  Toughest Competitor Alive  

 

HUB 8: Reston Town Center  11900 Market St, Reston, VA 20190    

Cross Country,  Golf,  Ice Hockey - Novice,  Open Water Swim,  Rugby,  Triathlon

 

HUB 9: Fairfax Corner lot, Monument Dr & Govt Center Pkwy   

Archery Target,  Cycling Criterium,  Darts,  Muster,  Lacrosse,  Rifle Air, Rifle Small Bore,  Softball,  Sporting Clays,  Skeet,  Trap

 

SPORT VENUES WITHOUT SHUTTLE SERVICE:

The following sports venues will not have shuttle service due to the nature of the sport or close walking proximity to Metrorail:

ANGLING - Pohick Bay Regional Park, Lorton, Virginia (Self-drive)

BEACH VOLLEYBALL - Lerner Town Square at Tysons II, McLean, Virginia (Accessible by Metro Silver Line Tysons Corner)

CrossFit® - Lerner Town Square at Tysons II, McLean, Virginia (Accessible by Metro Silver Line Tysons Corner)

DODGEBALL - Lerner Town Square at Tysons II, McLean, Virginia (Accessible by Metro Silver Line Tysons Corner)

DRAGON BOAT - National Harbor, National Harbor, Maryland (Hotels located less than half mile from venue)

MOTOCROSS - Budds Creek, Mechanicsville, Maryland (Self-drive)

POLICE MOTORCYCLE RIDING - Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, Virginia (Self-drive)

POLICE SERVICE DOG – Lake Fairfax, Reston, Virginia (Self-drive)

STAIR RACE - Tysons Tower, McLean, Virginia (Accessible by Metro Silver Line Tysons Corner)

ULTIMATE FIREFIGHTER - Springfield Town Square, Springfield, Virginia (Accessible by Metro Blue Line Franconia-Springfield

Legend has it that challenge coins – custom-designed coins or medallions bearing an organization’s identifying marks – first came about during World War I when a wealthy lieutenant from a flying squadron ordered some for his unit. One of his airman’s lives was allegedly spared because the downed pilot was able to prove his Allied allegiance to his French captors by producing the coin from a pouch around his neck.

Nowadays, challenge coins are used for far more than just identification purposes. They also serve as a morale builder, a way to honor an individual or as a memento to commemorate a special occasion or event. While challenge coins are most commonly associated with the U.S. military, they also are popular with professional sporting organizations, fraternal organizations and increasingly with police and fire departments. Even members of Congress and the Commander in Chief have their own coins, which they selectively dole out to constituents. When presented as an award, the giver traditionally passes the coin to the recipient during a handshake.

What is the “challenge” about the coin? Within the military, it is customary for coin owners to keep them on their person at all times. If suddenly challenged to produce the coin by someone within the same unit – a so-called “coin check” – the owner must present it or risk having to buy a drink or round of drinks for the challenger and anyone else who produces a coin. If everyone happens to produce their coins, then the challenger has to buy all of them a round of drinks. Exact rules vary by Service, but in most cases, those who are challenged have a limited number of steps they can take to produce the coin, and they cannot hang it on their key chain or belt buckle.

Not all challenge coin owners engage in drinking games. Many are simple collectors who amass hundreds of them over the course of their lifetimes and enjoy the personal stories associated with each of them.

Challenge coins are frequently exchanged at the World Police & Fire Games and commemorative Games coins are on sale online now and will be available for purchase at the Games themselves.  To order yours today, visit http://adrenalinechallengecoins.com/2015-wpfg.html

Sources:

“The Stories Behind Military Challenge Coins,” USO Blog, March 15, 2015.
“Challenge Coin History and Rules of the Coin,” Goat Locker.
“Challenge Coin,” Wikipedia.

The Fairfax 2015 World Police & Fire Games are seeking one of the most important elements of a successful event – volunteers! The Fairfax 2015 Volunteer Services Team has recruited thousands of volunteers, but is still looking for more helping hands.

Eileesh Buckley knows first-hand how exciting and rewarding volunteering at the Games can be. Having volunteered at the most recent competition in Belfast, Eileesh Buckley is hoping to come back for this year’s Games in Fairfax, Virginia. Eileesh got involved in the 2013 Games for some good fun and found her experience to be extremely rewarding. Eileesh volunteered at the registration desk.

“Working at the registration desks was great fun as I made new friends on that team, while also meeting so many competitors and their families visiting for the Games,” reflected Eileesh.  Eileesh found that meeting the varied mix of Games athletes was the most interesting part of the multi-sport event. From competitive athletes, to those participating for the social aspect, she saw the sense of camaraderie that the Games drive begin to develop between these unique invidividuals.

This summer, the WPFG will be hosted by Fairfax County from June 26 and July 5. The Games will bring together more than 12,000 law enforcement officers and firefighters from across the world to compete in events ranging from ice hockey to muster, a fast-paced athletic challenge based on the teamwork, speed and endurance required of firefighters. There are volunteer roles available in the following areas: Protocol, Venues and Competition, Registration and Accreditation, Media Relations, Logistics, Transportation and Special Events.

For many of the volunteer positions, no previous experience is required. Join in on the fun and apply to volunteer here: http://fairfax2015.com/volunteer

 

Carol Miller is no stranger to the World Police and Fire Games! The first Games she attended was the 1999 Stockholm Sweden Games and one of her favorite memories from that location was a day trip tour to the Archipelago Islands. In 2005, she competed in Quebec (and broke the record for the 200 Free Relay Womens Master B!) and still continues friendships from athletes she met there. Her favorite of all games was Adelaide in 2007, where she was able to earn a Bronze Medal with her Dragon Boat team, even though they only practiced as a team together for one hour prior to the event! We think feeding the joeys and holding a koala also contributed to her amazing memories from Australia

Carol has overcome several huge struggles in her life. In April of 2008, she was diagnosed with Stage 3a Breast Cancer and had a long and difficult struggle and recovery. Even in the midst of recovering from that life altering diagnosis, she discovered she needed a second spinal fusion (the first was the event that forced her retirement), just four months before the Vancouver Games. Her amazing resilience and willpower allowed her to compete in a swim event and row with her Dragon Boat team.

2011 brought her to New York and even though Hurricane Irene caused quite a bit of interruption, she still medaled in the 2 mile Open Water Swim, only the second one of her life. Swimming has always been a part of her life, although she never swam competitively in high school or college, she finds her peace when she’s in the water.Carol will be competing in the 2015 Fairfax Games in the Open Water Swim, 50 Free, 50 Fly, 200 IM, 100 Fly and 50 Back.

Carol views her struggle and battle with cancer to be secondary to the battle she fought when her son, Lt. Jonathan Miller, US Army, was deployed to Afghanistan for nine months. She said “I had to learn not to panic while watching the news. He was in combat on a regular basis and unfortunately experienced the loss of one of his mentors, Sgt. Major Barreras. I’d face chemotherapy and radiation again rather than my son being deployed again.”

Retired from the Arlington County Police Department right here in Virginia, she worked as a Patrol Officer, then as a Crime Scene Investigator, School Resource Office and lastly, a Detective in the Special Victims Unit. Her agency is recognized nationally for its outstanding training and professionalism and her pride for her agency shines through when she talks about her time with the Department.

Now that Carol is retired, she spends her time as both an Adjunct Professor and a US Masters Swim Coach. She “truly enjoys coaching and teaching new-to-the-water swimmers and finds it very rewarding.” Carol also volunteers with the C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors), a national non-profit dedicated to serving surviving family members of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. She doesn’t stop there, however. 

She has also operated – for the last 23 years – the daycare component for National Peace Officers Memorial Week in Washington D.C.  Carol’s heart of service is apparent in everything she does and it’s obvious she thrives on having opportunities to give back to others and her community, including working with non-profits who work with underprivileged victims of domestic violence.

When asked what she loves the most about meeting athletes from around the world, she says “I love to learn about cultures and countries I’ll most likely never visit.  Sharing stories about our careers and comparing how policing in the United States is different in some countries, yet very similar in others. I love to learn from my fellow athletes.”

Carol’s DON'T MISS attractions in the Fairfax / DC area: The Native American Museum (family friendly and an incredible experience), Great Falls, Virginia (magnificent in June and July) and all of the significant buildings and monuments (US Capitol, White House, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials)

Meet Meg Sinclair, introduced just two years ago to CrossFit®, by another firefighter looking for a teammate for a fundraising challenge. They placed 2^nd (behind a male team) and she was hooked. She has been competing and training full time since October of 2013 and doesn’t plan to stop any time soon!

Placing 35^th in the Central East Region of the CrossFit® Open in 2014, Meg also placed 535^th in the world in the Masters 40-44 year old category! Competing often with her teammates, Erin, Ryan, and Tristan, she currently trains at Indy Crossfit with coach and Masters Athlete Jeff Chapman, with a goal to compete at Regionals, and hopefully, the CrossFit® Games.

Meg has worked for the Pike Fire Department (Indiana) for 20 years and has served in most positions including firefighter, paramedic, company officer, safety officer, EMS officer. Currently, she is the Division Chief of Emergency Medical Services. The Pike Fire Department covers 44 square miles with five fire stations, five engines, two ladders, four transporting medic units, an EMS officer, a Safety Officer, and a Battalion Chief. Pike responded to over 11,000 runs in 2014 with approximately 80 percent of those being EMS in nature.

She has her Master’s Degree in Public Safety Management, and was accepted into the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program in 2014. You wouldn’t know it by speaking with her, but Meg is quite sure she’s the biggest introvert on the planet, but she has worked hard to overcome the fear of speaking in large groups, or when facilitating training events. Proud of her EMD Division, she has worked very hard to secure top of the line equipment for her Paramedics.

Meg is the proud mother to three girls, ages 23, 18 and 15 and even though working 24 hour shift schedules as a single mother has been difficult, she appreciates her girls’ support and knows they are proud of her accomplishments. When Meg isn’t at work, you’ll find her in the gym, or at home (and outside!) with their chickens and ducks.

What’s in Meg’s wallet?  A loaded Metro card, all ready for her visit this summer! Meg plans to visit the American History Museum and if time allows, the peaceful Botanical Gardens.