Walter Reed Injured Vets Receive Redskin Visit

SILVER SPRING, Md. (WUSA) -- Former Redskin and Superbowl MVP Mark Rypien posed for pictures with troops, gave them an up close look at his rings and sat down for pizza with them. 

Rafael Delgado, who has a brain injury and leg and back injuries from the Iraq war said, "To hang out with a legend? He signed my Redskins football, I'm like a kid in a candy store!"

Mark Rypien said, "Just thinking about it almost brings a tear to your eye. How much they appreciate us, but how much we appreciate all they've done."

Former Marine Jimmy King who lost a leg in Iraq says he only regrets losing four friends. whom he's memorialized in a tatoo. He doesn't regret serving, or even his injury.

"I met my wife walking into Walter Reed," said King.  If I hadn't been blown up, I wouldn't met my wife and we wouldn't have our son,  Hunter."

For military families, the entire family has to make sacrifices.

Rachelle Sharar, wife of an ill soldier said,"We knew some of the sacrifices, we just didn't know which ones. It's hard to know when you first get in."

Rachelle and Marine Staff Sergeant Anthony Sharar have three young children. But they have sent the older to to live with grandparents a month ago, while she takes care of her husband here.

Said Rachelle, "He has brain cancer. He was diagnosed in
November of 2007, he had surgery, but it's very aggressive."

Anthony Sharar said, "She's like my survival.  She's everything."

A service member who's injured or sick, needs at least one caretaker, but a nation full of supporters.

Rafael Delgado says, "We volunteered to be in the service because we love our country. If you see a vet, just say thank you."