Purple Heart Truck stops here in Lincoln

Posted By: Pierce Georlett

pgeorlett@klkntv.com 

This truck’s journey started in Virginia, then worked it’s way down through Georgia, and now it’s here in Lincoln Nebraska.

What’s special about modified Ford F-150 Is that a double leg amputee like James Donaldson, who lost both of his legs because of an IED during operation Iraqi Freedom, can still drive it.
 
"Basically we are on a mission to show people that mobility is freedom a lot of the people driving are either paralyzed or amputees," says James Donaldson. 
 
At the end of it’s journey the truck will be given to a double leg amputee and Purple Heart recipient Sergeant Justin Burdettee who lives in Spokane Washington.
 
"we are showing people that regardless of your injuries that you can get out and get stuff done without having to rely on anybody else," added James Donaldson. 
 
James’s co-pilot Larry Lazzara is also a Purple Heart recipient from the Vietnam War.

These two have driven the second part of this trip which started in Georgia, and will end in Boise, Idaho.

While these two seem like life long friends, they actually only met last week.
 
"Man we became instant best friends even though there’s an age gap there his humor and my humor and joke just never stop. You know he’s a Marine and I’m Army it doesn’t matter what branch you served in we are all apart of the same brotherhood and sisterhood," said James Donaldson. 
 
"we really don’t have to say anything to each other we know we are all brothers," added Larry Lazzara. 

But for these two, this drive means much more than just helping Sergeant Burdettee.
 
"I do it because there are veterans out there that I’m sure you’ve heard that 22 veterans commit suicide everyday and this is a way of telling them that mobility is freedom," says Larry Lazzara. 
 
"a lot of guys will stay home, you know dwell in their demons in their head and not want to go out and do anything the best way to do that is to remain active and stay in a good and positive state of mind," says James Donaldson. 
 
 
So they left here a little after 11 this morning and they are driving their way to Cheyenne, Wyoming tonight.

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