Veterans dive at Mote Sea in Sarasota

Okay, in Sarasota County, Mote C. We keep the celebration going here. Mote C honored the service and sacrifice of veterans today. As Fox 13's Kimberly Quezon shows us, it also included a very special moment for two veterans and all of their guests. We opened their doors today to veterans and their families, and for two veterans, it was a unique opportunity to dive into a 400,000-gallon habitat filled with sharks and other sea life. Chris Sanders and Chad Rozanski, both veterans of the U.S. Army, suited up in dive gear and And dove into the aquarium. Holding the American flag and flags representing Mote Marine in Operation No Person Left Behind Outdoors. A crowded room applauded the men and honored their service. For 15 years, Mote has worked with the Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge, a division of Operation No Person Left Behind Outdoors and others, to have veterans outplant more than 300,000 coral fragments and get them involved in the maintenance and installation of offshore coral nurseries. When I first got injured all I All I could see was nothing but limitations and limitations. But with veteran-sponsored organizations like this who get you out of your comfort zone, it puts you at an opportunity to where you can test those limitations and then truly find out what your capabilities are, because you can push it to the point to where you do fail, and there's a support group there to pick you back up. The fact that they're bringing veterans in is amazing, especially because I know a lot of veterans that love to dive, and they can get the opportunity to dive here, especially to just dive with sharks or with Mote. It's something that's near and dear to me, but it should be near and dear to every single American is what our vets have done for this country and for us. And we're so fortunate to have men and women that are... Willing and able to put their lives on the line for us. Service runs deep in Dr. Michael Crosby's family. As the president and CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory, he established the Colonel Richard D. Crosby Jr. Memorial Fund in honor of his father, which supports activities and programs for veterans. And thanks to a generous donor, admission for veterans and their family was free today. From Sarasota County, Kimberly Quezon, Fox 13 News. Yeah, Dr. Crosby summed it up so beautifully and what an amazing experience though to dive with sharks, to be under that water really is so therapeutic and calming for them. It really is. That's a great facility there they've got now. They've done a lot of renovations at Moat. So if you haven't been in several years, check it out when you get a chance.