VFW donates electric wheelchair to a veteran

Today a Marine Corps veteran was presented with a gift by the Mark Seymour Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5699 that will simplify some of the difficulties he’s been facing due to being wheelchair bound.

“I was in tears. I am super excited, very blessed.” Happy tears were shed after Nicole Beckham found out her husband, Kevin Beckham, a Marine Corp veteran was being presented with an electric wheelchair by the Mark Seymour Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5699. “He’s been sick for almost eight years now, you know, before he got the leg amputated, he was wheel chair bound.”

Beckham’s right leg from the knee down and four of his fingers on his left hand were amputated after suffering medical complications. Now, with the help of the VFW, he will have the mobility to do the small things that mean the most. “It’ll allow me to go to Walmart and travel freely and travel with my kids and play putt-putt golf and not have to struggle through the course.”

Post Commander Pat McCarthy says giving back is one of the many ways in which they live up to their mission of honoring the dead by helping the living. “When you join you make a commitment to help veterans, you also make a commitment to work in the community that you’re in.”

McCarthy says that although Beckham is not a member of their post as veterans they all stand together to help one another. VFW Post 5699 Second Year Trustee Mike Nangle said, “A disabled veteran had gotten an update one so they dropped this off so the post has been kind enough to donate it to Kevin.”

“I’m all for it and I’m ready.”