Posted on 12/16/2005 5:40:03 AM PST by Coop
When Phillip DeAguilera returns home from serving in Iraq, he's going to have the surprise of his life.
John Dixon is sanding down and repairing an old 1969 Bronco wagon. It's a special project for a man shipped off to a far off land.
Dixon says, “I've never met him before. His wife Melissa had posted on a forum that I go to for Broncos, just asking for advice on getting their truck fixed up while he was gone, and it progressed from there.”
Melissa's husband Phillip is in Baghdad with the U.S. Army. He's due to return in early January. So she went to a web site for Bronco ethusiasts. Since then, she's been surprised by the response of folks across the country.
DeAguilera says, “From then on its been an amazing story. You would not believe how many people have come out of the wood works to help bring it together.”
Instead of just advice, parts started coming in to rebuild the Bronco from Oklahoma, Maryland, California and Texas. Some parts from as far away as Canada.
“Smith Ford let us bring it here to work on it. John's been donating a lot of extra time to get it fixed up before Phillip gets home,” says DeAguilera.
The Bronco wagon was in pretty bad shape when it was first arrived in August. But John has been busy getting this Bronco together, especially the wiring.
Dixon says, “And that was one thing that was a necessity. We even found out when we took the dash out that part of the wiring harness had burned at one time. So it's a 50/50 shot it would burn down to the ground.”
Dixon says he took this job on to show some support for a soldier serving in harm's way. But Melissa says it's more than that. These new friends are helping her family and the man she loves.
Ping
Ping!
What a great story! I thank them all for doing this for one who is serving our country and for his family.
It's especially nice knowing this was not a group of veterans or political junkies, per se, but rather just a bunch of regular ol' Bronco enthusiasts responding to a loving wife's question. Definite heart-warmer!
Hi Coop,
I hope we get to read the homecoming of this soldier and how he reacts to such a heartfelt gesture. :)This story is amazing. Thanks
I asked my friend to give me an update. If I get one, I'll follow up.
Thanks so much Coop. It's a very special story. :)
A very cool story!
What's the Bronco web site?
I'm not sure. I found two or three this morning, and searches on the soldier's name didn't reveal which one it was. And my buddy's incommunicado today.
Bump
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