December 24, 2009 in Washington Voices

Gift of new mobility

Paralyzed vet receives van outfitted so he can drive again

Cindy Hval dchval@juno.com

Wes Hixon gets pushed into his new retrofitted van by his sister-in-law, Rachael Guberlet, on Sunday. The 24-year-old Iraq war veteran was presented with an early Christmas gift by the Wheels for Warriors organization recently.
(Full-size photo)

Christmas shopping just got a lot easier for Wes Hixon.

On Dec. 5, the 24-year-old disabled veteran received a retrofitted Chevy Uplander courtesy of Wheels for Warriors. Since 2005, this national program, an offshoot of Operation Support Our Troops, has given 17 vans to veterans who’ve been wounded while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. However, Dec. 5 marked the first time a recipient has been from the West Coast.

Program chairman Steve Middleton said the modified vans give paralyzed vets the freedom to do simple things, like go to the grocery store. He was part of the crowd that …

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