Merrimack Veterans to be Treated to Patriots Experience

On the day before Veterans Day, disabled veterans from across New England, including two from Merrimack, will converge at Gillette Stadium for a day of fun and skills training on the gridiron

On Nov. 10, CVS Caremark and the New England Patriots are honoring 50 disabled veterans with a football skills camp at Gillette Stadium in partnership. The skills camp is an extension of CVS Caremark’s commitment to individuals with disabilities and the company’s overall commitment to recognizing and supporting America’s military heroes.

The CVS Caremark/New England Patriots Veterans Skills Camp will pair former Patriots players with veterans on the gridiron to work on football skills and drills. Working with three-time Super Bowl champions Patrick Pass (former fullback) and Matt Chatham (former linebacker), and Super Bowl XXXVI champion Jermaine Wiggins (former tight end), the veterans will use adaptive sports techniques they’ve learned through the VA’s New England Adaptive Sports Program to modify activity per the injuries they sustained during military service.

Among the veterans participating in the program are a father and son from Merrimack – Harry "Ross" Wheeler Jr.  and Jason Wheeler – who, between the two of them, have served in the Army, Navy and Marines. Jason Wheeler served in the Navy and Army. He spent six years in the military and served in the Gulf War before taking a nine-year break and returning as a member of the 1/509th Airborne Infantry recon team 2. Harry "Ross" Wheeler Jr. served in as a marine from 1966 to 1971.

The special day for the participating veterans – who hail from communities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire – will include:

• Patriots-style entry onto the field through oversized Patriots helmet
• Coaching by Patriots alumni on blocking, throwing and kicking skills
• A light dinner on the sidelines with an opportunity to secure autographs and photos with Patriots alumni, Patriots cheerleaders and Patriots mascot Pat Patriot
• A visit to The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon