One aspect of the Charlie Daniels Band’s performance at Summerseat Farm in Mechanicsville that drew a lot of attention Saturday, Sept. 6 was a special effort made for those who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces.
Capt. Ted Harwood, USN and his wife Nancy raise funds for the Semper Fi Fund and had the wounded warriors booth at the Charlie Daniels Band concert. They also made it possible for wounded Marines from the Wounded Warrior Regiment at Quantico, VA to attend the performance.
Cpl. Shaw Adams was with the 1/8 Division of Marines patrolling in Kjkiji, Afghanistan as part of Operation Western Front in 2011 in rough mountain terrain when a land mine ended his tour of duty.
“I’d only been in country a little while when it happened,” he said. “I got in country Jan. 1. The explosion happened Feb. 10.”
Adams was flown to four different medical facilities following his injuries, landing finally at Walter Reed. Adams lost both legs to the blast. Sitting in a wheelchair, he was wearing prosthetics on both legs. He has spent 19 months in recovery.
“Right now, I’m just trying to get my life back,” he said.
He was visited by Sam Grow and Charlie Daniels, Summerseat organizer Jimmy Dicus said.
“Charlie spent quite a bit of time talking with him,” Dicus said.
Adams said he spends his time between trips to Walter Reed and his home in Gainesville, Ga.
At 21 years old, he still has his life before him, but adjusting to his new legs has been difficult, he said, because his amputations are at different locations on each leg.
“It makes it harder,” he noted.
The facebook group Hits4Heroes is having a fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 13 to benefit Adams and his friends at Cryer’s Back Road Inn in Compton from 4-7 p.m.
He stated that the military takes care of his medical needs, but if he goes outside the VA for other treatment, he has to pay for it. The event this Saturday is being held to help defray those costs.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com