Many of America’s finest young men and women are serving in our armed forces to ensure that the freedom we enjoy today will be preserved for our children and our children’s children. As soldiers, sailors, waves, marines, wacs and airmen, officer and enlisted, they stand ready to defend a free nation that represents liberty and democracy throughout the world.
In that defense of our great country, many have sacrificed their lives freely so others may live in peace. Still many, many others have returned home, but with life changing injuries. From today forward they must plan for a future as handicapped civilians rather than the life they had imagined just a few short years ago.
Some will never know a day without pain or medications; others must learn to adjust to using prosthetics and specialized equipment just to run errands or hold a job. But what of their ability to own a home, earn a living and support their family with pride? Tragically, many discover that the system they had imagined would provide simply cannot and they become lost in red tape and the sheer volume of the number of growing cases.
Enter Anna Sherony who refused to accept that there was nothing that could be done to make a difference for these brave Americans. Sherony has lobbied in Springfield and Washington DC for nearly three years for legislative changes in the interests of our wounded. She has appealed to corporations all over Illinois to donate cars, services, appliances, cash and anything else they have that will provide security and mobility to these returning heroes.
Her cause came to Zion last summer with the Wounded Heroes fundraising efforts. The project was to raise awareness and money, but it seemed to touch the Zion community more deeply. The city donated a small residential parcel to the Wounded Heroes Foundation and the Foundation was able to arrange for donations and contributions through Edward R. James Builders will soon be a new home for US Soldier Gabe Garriga.
Inspired by the overwhelming response and generosity, Commissioner Frank Flammini reached out to Deerpointe Homes of Zion to see how another young soldier, Miguel Delgado, could be helped to buy a new home in Shepherd’s Crossing. By the time all of the contractors had heard Miguel’s story, we have enough donations to build two new homes! Groundbreaking for the Delgado family will take place on April 28th, the anniversary of his nearly fatal injury while serving in Iraq.
Can helping a handful of young heroes recover their lives really make a difference to the overwhelming number of wounded? The answer is a resounding “YES!” If you would like to learn more about the foundation and its mission please visit www.woundedheroesfund.net.
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