Photo by Bill Petzold • Cpl. Michael Harris, United States Marine and executive director of the Michigan Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America speaks to those in attendance at The Lighthouse Rehab Center’s Veterans Appreciation Luncheon held Sunday in Caro.
By Bill Petzold
Editor
CARO —About 80 people attended The Lighthouse Neurological Rehabilition Center’s first Veterans Appreciation Luncheon on Sunday at the center, 1655 East Caro Road.
Senator Mike Green (R-Mayville) was in attendance as Lighthouse owner and founder Dorothea Wilson and her son, Luke Wilson, presented Paralyzed Veterans of America Michigan Chapter executive director Michael Harris with an Action Trackchair motorized wheelchair.
The wheelchair, which features tracks similar to those found on a tank, will allow veterans with disabilities to be able to hunt, fish and do other outdoor activities that require going places where a regular wheelchair can’t go.
“We didn’t know how many to expect, were we going to get five or 250, so I think it went really well,” Dorothea Wilson said. “Nancy (Matuzak) worked really hard putting it together, which we thank her for, believe me.”
Harris said the machine will be put to good use as part of PVA’s mission to help veterans with disabilities to do the things they enjoyed doing.
Photo by Bill Petzold • The Lighthouse Rehab Center founder and owner Dorothea Wilson, left, and her son Luke Wilson, right, cheer as Paralyzed Veterans of America executive director Michael Harris tries out the Action Trackchair motorized wheelchair the center donated to PVA.
“We realize with the proper supports, that you can lead a very productive and fulfilling life,” Harris said. “A lot of times our members reclaim themselves through sports, through recreation, doing a lot of the activities they did prior to their disability. Having an item like this will allow our members to really fulfill their dreams. … On behalf of our membership, I just want to thank everyone at the Lighthouse Rehab for what you do.”
Harris said he would send photos of the Trackchair in action so the staff of The Lighthouse could see how their gift continues to give happiness and freedom to the membership of PVA. He also expressed appreciation for their work treating brain injuries.
“I’ve gotten to know people with traumatic brain injuries, and the ‘signature wound’ of this war has been traumatic brain injury, by far … so I’m very appreciative of the work that you do on behalf of veterans. Really the general population as a whole that have TBI, it’s amazing when you see them at one point, then six months to a year later they’ve gotten so much better, that (treatment) does work. When you have the proper support and resources that (The Lighthouse) can provide, you can make a difference in their lives.
“I’m a Marine myself — and I just want to wish everyone a happy Veterans Day. Really, within our organization, every day is Veterans Day as far as we’re concerned.”