'Biggest Ever' Event Gives Wounded Vets 'Involving' New Opportunity

A beaming smile and two triumphantly raised fists left little doubt Friday that Gregory Major was proudly proclaiming victory each and every time he dominated a wave to shore.

Major, 49, a Navy veteran and Hampton resident who suffered a traumatic brain injury during a motorcycle accident in 1985, had never surfed before. Those who knew him said they weren't sure if it would be possible, much like doctors doubted Major would ever wake from a three-month coma after his crash — let alone survive his injuries.

That uncertainty was blown out of the water Friday, though, as Major was among the more than 50 wounded veterans who rode a wave as part of the sixth annual Wounded Warriors Hit the Beach.

Eighteen volunteers did help him in and out of a specialized all-terrain wheelchair he used to traverse the uneven North Beach sand, but once they steadied him atop his surfboard, it was all Major. 

Major has limited balance and can't walk without the assistance of a walker due to a subsequent brain injury caused by a fall down a flight of stairs 10 years ago, but he was able to sit up and ride a wave to shore by himself — an accomplishment he said was fulfilling. 

"It was fun and wet," said Major, who added that the act of surfing was extremely "involving."

Hit the Beach is an annual American Legion Post 35 and Wounded Warriors Project event designed to give injured veterans and community members of all ages a chance to forget about their injuries for a few hours, as well as give them a chance to overcome those injuries while trying something new.

Post 35 Cmdr. Ralph Fatello said Friday's superb surf and weather conditions, as well as a lot of organizational hard work from the Wounded Warrior Project, helped make Hit the Beach VI the largest — and possibly the best — ever.

Friday set records for both participants and volunteers, at more than 50 and more than 100, respectively, according to Fatello.

Fatello wasn't sure if those numbers would even be possible because North Beach was almost entirely concealed in a dense fog just two days ago, and on Thursday looked and felt like "winter" due to frigid conditions. The sun broke through Friday morning, though, which, along with some of the biggest waves Hampton has seen this year, helped set the stage for the upbeat event.

"It's been great," said Fatello, adding that Friday had "the biggest crowd ever" for a Hit the Beach event. "I saw this and I said, 'There's going to be 'surf' surf.' I guarantee they're not going to want to leave the water.

"Someone up there must like us."

Video of Major, family members and other veterans — including double amputee Jerry Miserandino, an annual favorite at Hit the Beach — is attached above.