Yorktown, Va. – After driving through 13 states and traveling nearly 4,000 miles, a group of Coast Guardsmen pulled into Yorktown Sunday for the last stop of their month-long journey in an electric cart.
The trip started in California at the end of April.
From there, about eight people took turns driving the cart, going 25 miles an hour.
“Just going across country, back roads, meeting America, meeting the veterans, explained CDR Kendall Garran.
They’re all active-duty in the Coast Guard and are stationed in Yorktown.
They took vacation time to make the trip so they could spread awareness for veterans and raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.
As they traveled, they visited VA Hospitals, VFWs and American Legions.
“It was amazing, to hear the veterans stories was amazing, there were funny stories, happy stories and sad stories,” said Garran.
In Nevada, they happened upon a Coast Guard Combat Veterans Reunion with veterans from every war going back to WWII.
“It was like coming home to our brothers and sisters, it was just overwhelming,” said Ray Rehberg.
Steve Petersen was one of those veterans. He ended up joining them for part of the trip.
“I had the privilege of driving the cart for 16 miles myself.”
He then came to Yorktown from his home in Texas to welcome them back and join in the celebration.
The group’s goal was to raise $50,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project and Rehberg says they’re getting close.
