• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

       

Click to join our weekly e-newsletter

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Trinity VFW Post 7987 welcomes home a hero

May 24, 2011 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Anthony V. Masella Jr.

Local veterans and other patriotic supporters lined the streets of Trinity Boulevard on May 14 to greet a man they believe deserves all the accolades they can bestow.

Marine Lance Corporal Justin Gaertner was on patrol on Thanksgiving Day, but his “work” was interrupted by an IED explosion that left him fighting for his life on the battlefield, realizing that both of his legs were gone. His one thought was not to worry his mother when he called his family to tell them what had happened.

VFW Post 7987 offered a lifetime membership to Marine Lance Corporal Justin Gaertner, and checks were given from various fundraisers to help in honoring his brave effort and to help in his recovery.

Six months later, he was welcomed by his family, his fellow soldiers and strangers who are awed by this one person’s heroic story at VFW Post 7987 in Trinity.

Gaertner will spend  a couple of weeks home in Trinity before he returns to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for more rehab, but for now he is amazed by the homecoming he received.

His best friend, Corporal Gabe Martinez, also lost his limbs in the same confrontation, and one wish of Gaertner is to go to Arlington Cemetery to visit two other fallen soldier’s graves. The VFW offered a lifetime membership to the young man and checks were given from various fundraisers to help in honoring his brave effort and to help in his recovery.

 

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Reddit
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

Get the Word Out: Orange Blossom Women’s Group is a Safe Haven for Women to Address All Their Healthcare Needs

November 7, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Orange Blossom Women’s Group, a state-of-the-art medical facility led by Dr. Reut Bardach, M.D. that offers … [Read More...] about Get the Word Out: Orange Blossom Women’s Group is a Safe Haven for Women to Address All Their Healthcare Needs

Tampa Bay Roofing Services Offers Quality, Experience and Honesty

October 24, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Our community is home to Tampa Bay Roofing Services led by Chris Hloska, a roofing industry veteran with over 20 years … [Read More...] about Tampa Bay Roofing Services Offers Quality, Experience and Honesty

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

12/05/2023 – A Saint Leo Christmas

Saint Leo University will present “A Saint Leo Christmas” holiday concerts on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., in the Black Box Theatre in Benedictine Hall, 33701 County Road 52 in St. Leo. The theme is “What is Christmas to Me?” The concert is a combination of contemporary and traditional works. Cookies and hot chocolate will be provided after each concert. Admission is $5 to support Saint Leo’s music programs. Online-only ticketing is available at tinyurl.com/2p88pebh. Requests for special accommodations can be made by emailing or visiting SaintLeo.edu/accommodations. For ticket information, email . … [Read More...] about 12/05/2023 – A Saint Leo Christmas

12/05/2023 – Holiday Card Making

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a craft class on Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 13 to 18 (still in high school). Participants can make holiday cards for the senior center or children’s hospital. All supplies will be provided. Call 813-929-1214 for information. … [Read More...] about 12/05/2023 – Holiday Card Making

12/06/2023 – Holiday Plants

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will present a master gardener seminar about holiday plants on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. Registration is required. Call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 12/06/2023 – Holiday Plants

12/06/2023 – Project Blue Light

The West Central Florida Concerns of Police Survivors will host its inaugural Project Blue Light Ceremony on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., at Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 29, 4300 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. … [Read More...] about 12/06/2023 – Project Blue Light

12/09/2023 – Kids Film Series

The New Tampa Performing Arts Center, 8550 Hunters Village Road in Tampa, will present “The Muppet Christmas Carol” on Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. General admission tickets are $5 and can be purchased online at NewTampaArtsCenter.org/Tickets. … [Read More...] about 12/09/2023 – Kids Film Series

4-H Program in full swing

Join Pasco County Cooperative Extension for this year’s 4-H program, which is running now through next Aug. 31. Children ages 5 to 18 can participate in county, district, state, regional and national level 4-H clubs, events and activities. 4-H members join community clubs where they work with fellow volunteers to complete projects, community service, camps and workshops. Project areas include: leadership, environmental science, animal science, robotics, sewing, art, fishing, and more. The cost to join is $15 for children ages 5 to 7 and $25 for ages 8 to 18. To join the club, call 352-518-0156, or email . For information about 4-H, visit Florida4H.ifas.ufl.edu. … [Read More...] about 4-H Program in full swing

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: