ROCHESTER, N.Y. – For veteran Edward Kazdan, cycling is more than just a hobby. It is essential for his daily life. Kazdan, who served in the Navy Reserve and the Air Force Reserve for 20 years, including a deployment to Iraq in 2007, has found solace in riding a bike.
Kazdan said, “When you get over there it’s a whole different ballgame. You think you’re prepared, but…”
While his service was rewarding, Kazdan lives with PTSD, a struggle stemming from his experiences overseas. He described the emotional toll of witnessing young people injured by war.
“You can heal the physical wounds of people and stuff, but you meet these young kids and they’re trying to survive day by day,” Kazdan said. “They just want to kick a ball around and stuff, and here comes a piece of Shrapnel coming from a mile away or so and all the sudden now they’re missing a leg and it gets to you because you have children here and you have your own kids and you think about that.”
Kazdan says seeing the heartbreak on their face weighs on him, as he can’t do anything to fix it. He found peace in cycling, which he said helps clear his head.
“It clears your head. You go on the canal, you can go anywhere in Rochester that you want to go and be free per say,” he said.
On July 17, Kazdan will join hundreds of veterans in the Soldier Ride New York, a multi-day cycling event in Manhattan organized by the Wounded Warriors Project. Kazdan expressed excitement about the opportunity.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity are you kidding me? This is great. Actually I’ve tried to get into this program for three years and I finally got accepted,” Kazdan said.
Kazdan is already envisioning what it’s going to look like.
“Just pure joy of going with other veterans who have the same issues that can get together in a big group like this and share this wonderful moment,” said Kazdan.
Mlodzinski: “On a day like July 4th, what do you want people to understand about the things that you, other veterans have gone through?”
Kazdan: “People like the warriors, they smile on the outside, but they have issues on the inside.”
For Kazdan, every day is like July 4th, as he remembers his sacrifice for the country. He looks forward to riding with his family once they save enough to replace his wife’s stolen bike.
“We made a pact that we can do this together so once I get her a bike again, we’re going,” Kazdan said.
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