Deparrtment Commander Visits Chapter 78

Purple Heart Truck Comes to Santa Rosa

By Charles Earthman, Dept. of CA Commander

 

      The 2018 Purple Heart Truck Run Mad a stop in Santa Rosa on its tour through California in late July.  The mobility-equipped, 2018 Ford F-150 truck, adapted to suit combat -wounded veterans who are paralyzed or have lost legs or arms, visited our state on the final leg of a 7,800 mile trip across America. 

        An escort of patriotic motorcycle groups meet the truck as it entered Sonoma County, and led it flags flying to the Hansel Ford Dealership in Santa Rosa where they were received by local veterans and supporters and a Classic Car show and barbecue.  Several members of Petaluma VFW Post 1929 were on hand to show camaraderie and support for Chapter 78 the host for the event.  It was a great day with many well-wishers dropping by to show support for this great veteran cause.  The next morning, the truck was off to Redding, their final stop in California. 

       The truck will have stops in Medford and Portland, Oregon, before ending its run in Spokane, Washington, at the Purple Heart National Convention where keys to the truck will be presented to US Army Sgt. Justin Burdette of Palm Bay, Florida, who lost both legs to an IED in Afghanistan.

      With the theme "Mobility is Freedom” the truck run is sponsored jointly by Wounded Warriors Family Support (WWFS) and the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) and piloted by Purple Heart veterans Ken Teunissen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Don Towers of Canton, Georgia.