'Wounded hero' showered with gifts for baby
Marine Miguel Delgado honored at fund-raiser
WINTHROP HARBOR — Marine Sgt. Miguel Delgado headed back to duty at Camp Lejuene, N.C. on Sunday with his arms full of baby supplies, clothes and toys.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/city/5_1_WA21_WOUNDEDHERO_S10821.htm
By Chris Brenner CBRENNER@scn1.com
The Marine, still healing from wounds suffered a year ago in Iraq, was honored and showered with baby gifts Saturday for his expected newborn daughter during the Wounded Heroes Foundation fund-raiser held at Stone Creek Grill.
The event included "lots of people", food, drink and music, he said. "They had it all."
The foundation gave him many needed baby items.
Anna Sherony of Wadsworth is the co-founder of the Wounded Heroes Foundation that financially helps wounded servicemen and women throughout the country.
"They have ensured our American dream with their sacrifices and it is our duty to ensure their American dreams," she said.
The Saturday event honored four other "wounded heroes" from Peoria and Chicago.
Each received a $500 grant, Sherony said.
The party was supported strongly by the VFW post in Winthrop Harbor, the village of Winthrop Harbor and Tim and Ron Kaiser from Stone Creek Grill, she said.
The Purple Hearts motorcycle group held a bike run with proceeds going to the foundation. More than 100 bikers participated, she said.
Delgado is heading back to the Marine base after a three-day leave to await the arrival of his first child "in a few days," he said Sunday.
Delgado, 25, and his wife, Cristhian, are expecting a daughter that they will named Ohani.
He said he was wounded by an IED (improvised explosive device), or booby trap, on Aug. 6 last year. He suffered severe injuries to his left leg and has undergone 20 surgeries. The last was two weeks ago.
"I'm still in the healing process," he said.
Delgado, son of Miguel and Carmen Delgado of Waukegan, is a 1999 graduate of Waukegan High School.
He was on his first tour of duty in Iraq with an engineer support battalion when he was wounded.
He will be discharged from the Marine Corps in three months.
Delgado praised the work of the Foundation.
"I thank them for what they are doing," he said. "There is no way we can ever repay them. Thanks for everything."
Sherony said that many people attending the event "were in tears because of these wonderful heroes."
"Many people can say they support our troops, but many can't say how," she said. "These people can now say how."
08/21/06