Army National Guard veteran receives A Warrior’s Wish of two pull-behind travel trailer rentals
Peoria-based Army National Guard Sergeant Eduardo Fuentes-Bueno and his four-month old son enjoy some downtime, on vacation, in the comforts of a pull-behind camper. For more photos please visit: http://bit.ly/2gPnSFr
PEORIA, AZ (Nov. 9, 2017) – Peoria-based Army National Guard Sergeant Eduardo Fuentes-Bueno along with his family enjoy camping trips and time spent outdoors, but due to injuries sustained in combat, tent camping is no longer an option. Thanks to Hope For The Warriors® and its A Warrior’s Wish® program Fuentes-Bueno and his family enjoyed two camping vacations in the comforts of pull-behind travel trailer rentals.
Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a sense of self, family and hope to service members, their families, and families of the fallen. Its first established program, A Warrior’s Wish, honors the goals and desires of severely wounded service members, veterans, and their families.
In May, the young family of three enjoyed their first camping getaway to Lake Pleasant, Arizona, where they spent quality time enjoying paddle boarding and many other outdoor activities. For the family’s second vacation, they returned to Lake Pleasant in October but this time as a family of four after welcoming their son a few months earlier.
“My family and I are extremely grateful that we had the chance to have these awesome experiences,” said Fuentes-Bueno. “These trips gave me and my family mental piece, joyfulness and a unique method of relaxation in nature.”
In February 2007, Fuentes-Bueno enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served as a machine gunner. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton with 2 Battalion 4th Marines. He deployed to Burma in support of Operation Caring Response in 2008 and completed his active-duty contract in March 2011. He moved to Arizona and joined the Army National Guard in October 2011.
In January 2012, Fuentes-Bueno volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan with the 125th Infantry Battalion in Michigan. The unit was supporting combat and training operations with the Afghanistan Police in Kunduz Province. On February 26, 2012, his unit was attacked and 10 soldiers, including Fuentes-Bueno, were injured while defending their post. He was medically evacuated out of theater and eventually transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
After rehabilitating for two years, Fuentes- Bueno medically retired from the Army in June 2014 with a Purple Heart certificate.
“As a result of combat injuries, life forever changes for some military members and their families,” said Robin Kelleher, president and CEO of Hope For The Warriors. “Therefore, it’s an honor for Hope For The Warriors to provide Sergeant Fuentes-Bueno and his family a way to enjoy camping once again. We’re also excited to work with him as he applies for a 2018 A Warrior’s Wish for his very own pull-behind travel trailer.”
In 2017, 12 wishes will be granted through Hope For The Warriors. The wishes fulfill a desire for a better quality of life or support a quest for gratifying endeavors for those who have sustained severe physical and psychological wounds in the line of duty.
Since the program’s inception, A Warrior’s Wish has granted 170 wishes.
For sponsorship and volunteer opportunities for the A Warrior’s Wish program, contact Chrystal Keilers at ckeilers@hopeforthewarriors.org or (832) 776-9379.
To apply for a wish, visit https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/story/19331538/a-warriors-wish and register online.
For more photos please visit: http://bit.ly/2gPnSFr
For more information on Hope For The Warriors and A Warrior’s Wish, visit hopeforthewarriors.org, Facebook or Twitter.
About Hope For The Warriors:
Founded in 2006, Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a sense of self, family and hope for post 9/11 veterans, service members and military families. Since its inception, Hope For The Warriors has served more than 13,000 through a variety of support programs focused on transition, health and wellness, peer engagement and connections to community resources. The nonprofit’s first program, A Warrior’s Wish, has granted 170 wishes to fulfill a desire for a better quality of life or support a quest for gratifying endeavors. In addition, Run For The Warriors has captured the hearts of more than 22,000 since 2010. For more information, visit hopeforthewarriors.org, Facebook or Twitter.
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