Michael Wilkinson was selected because he overcame wounds received in Vietnam and continued to become a productive member of society. Amazingly, Michael was pronounced dead for over 24 hours, but showed signs of life despite his wounds. He never gave up in spite of all the adversity he faced. The word "surrender" does not exist in his vocabulary. "I carry the Olympic torch for my country; for my father (a WWII Korean War veteran who passed away suddenly on December 21, 1998); for my son; for the City of Fort Collins; Larimer County; the State of Colorado: my sister, Becky (an Olympic Torchbearer herself); and for all Humanity, for we are one."