LAND O’ LAKES – Freedom Alliance recently presented U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jerry Wayne Padgett II with a new all-terrain wheelchair in honor of his service.
Padgett enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2001. He served aboard the USS Cushing, USS Preble and COMMGRP1, deploying five times and contributing as a command community relations photographer and rescue swimmer.
In 2006, while on patrol in Afghanistan, he was severely injured by an improvised explosive device, resulting in a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and audio and visual impairments.
Padgett now lives in Land O’ Lakes with family and service dogs. He stays active with his son and volunteers in the community.
His new all-terrain wheelchair will allow him to overcome daily barriers and experience a renewed sense of freedom. He’s also looking forward to returning to Florida’s trails and helping others enjoy the outdoors.
“Jerry’s courage, resilience and unwavering commitment to serving others embody the very best of our nation’s heroes,” said Tom Kilgannon, president of the Freedom Alliance. “Providing him with this all-terrain wheelchair is a small way to honor his sacrifice and help restore the freedom he fought so hard to protect. We are proud to stand with Jerry as he returns to the outdoors he loves, and we’re grateful to the generous supporters who make moments like this possible.”
Freedom Alliance honors and supports veterans in a variety of ways. The nonprofit has awarded more than $30 million in college scholarships to children of heroes killed or disabled in military service. It has spent millions more helping injured veterans and their families with outdoor therapy trips, Heroes Retreats, care packages and mortgage-free homes.
On the web: FreedomAlliance.org
