Vietnam Vet’s Wheelchair Breaks In Lowe’s, Employees Stay Late To Rebuild It Like New

Jared Borislow10 years ago

I find that my faith in humanity seems to fluctuate quite rapidly. I lost it completely on that sad, sad day in 2001 when Pop-Tarts announced it was discontinuing Pastry Swirls. I gained it somewhat back in the mid-2000s when Doritos’ 3D line launched, but lost a lot of it when the 3Ds were canceled shortly after their inception (R.I.P.). I lost even more in 2011 when they discontinued Vault energy soda. I’ve been in limbo ever since. But now, my faith in humanity is back in full force after hearing this story.

As he explains in a letter he wrote to the Staten Island Advance, Michael Sulsona is a Vietnam veteran who lost both of his legs in 1971 after stepping on a land mine. While waiting to receive a new wheelchair from the VA–which he has been doing for the past two years–Michael’s junky, old one fell apart, as it had been prone to doing. When it broke, he was shopping at a Lowe’s in Mariner’s Harbor, N.Y. The Lowe’s employees saw a man in need and took action.

From Sulsona’s letter to the Staten Island Advance:

Three employees, David, Marcus and Souleyman jumped to my assistance immediately. They placed me in another chair while they went to work.

They took the wheelchair apart and replaced the broken parts and told me, “We’re going to make this chair like new.”

I left 45 minutes after closing hours in my wheelchair that was like new.

I kept thanking them and all they could say was, “It was our honor.”

The actions of these three employees at Lowe’s showed me there are some who still believe in stepping to the plate.

They didn’t ask any questions, didn’t feel the need to fill out any forms or make phone calls. Someone needed help and they felt privileged to be given the opportunity.

Good on you, David, Marcus, and Souleyman. You truly are great, honorable men, and you personify respect for those who serve.

[via Staten Island Advance]

Image via Michael Sulsona