LA MESA, Calif. — A group of big-hearted volunteers is giving the gift of a lifetime to the widow of a Marine.
In this Zevely Zone, I visited the La Mesa VFW for the teary-eyed follow-up to "Operation Tiger Tim."
When someone you love dies, it's nice to keep something of theirs to remember them by. That's how a special truck with Florida plates ended up in California.
Ahn Read was blindfolded and couldn't see a thing. "They are taking me to Tiger Tim's The Beast!" said Ahn. Her husband Marine veteran Tim Read had two loves in his life, his wife Ahn, and the truck he called the Beast.
Last March, the two-time Purple Heart Recipient, died from a heart attack at age 33.
"I get choked up because it's so fresh," said Ed Hanson when we first met him last December. Ed served in the Navy and gathered an army of volunteers to help with the project. They brought Tim's truck from Florida to refurbish it and give it to Ahn. "Oh, my god," said Ahn when laying eyes on the truck. "Oh, my gosh it's beautiful, I am just so speechless," said Ahn.
Volunteers from The Larry Himmel Foundation, numerous auto shops, and Warrior Foundation-Freedom Station all pitched in.
Ahn lives in Tampa and will take Tim's truck home. "Look at this group of people. The good in life? Look at all of these people out here I just asked," said Ed with a tear in his eye.
Many of the volunteers served in the military and simply wanted to ease the pain of a grieving widow. "This is incredible, it's so shiny," said Ahn.
The truck is filled with memories. On the dashboard sits Tim's favorite driving music, and there is even a cast of his hand. "This is Tim's hand, it's my beloved hand, he is riding with me," said Ahn through her tears.
Tim was shot by a sniper in Afghanistan and then lost his leg to an IED. After years of PTSD, he passed away last March.
But now, 'The Beast' is running better than ever with a new Tiger Tim horn.
"Ready?" yelled Ahn and she honked the horn.
Volunteers couldn't bring the Marine back, so they breathed new life into the truck and woman he loved.
"This means the world to me because being in this truck is like being in the embrace of my husband, he has the best hug, and being in here driving this I will be closer to my husband," said Ahn who wanted to say this to the volunteers. "I just want to let them know that without the community this wouldn't happen."
I asked Ahn if she would be driving the truck back to Florida. "I'm hoping to," said Ahn who told us if Tiger Tim could be riding shotgun he would say, "Let's go Ahn, ha, ha. Let's get it on," she laughed.
Time to put the pedal to the Marine metal. Tim Read had a tattoo on his forearm that read, "For those I love I shall sacrifice." Ahn says when she sits in his truck she can feel his spirit.
Here's a list of benefactors giving their time, expertise, talent, money and material to help make Anh's dream come true:
Ed Hanson Chief Executive, Network, & Idea Officer (Vet – Navy)
"The Master" Supplied garage, lift, tools, coordinated all craftsmen
Boy Scout Troop 11 Moral support
Isaac & Kami Blunt Installed Weather Tek liners (Vet – USMC)
Kim Bozell Moral support and provided son, Max, to help
Lee Brice (P.R. group) Provided personalized CD of "I Drive Your Truck"
Charlotte Authored words for pinstripe tribute (Tim's sister)
Terrance Chen Exhaust components (Different Trend Exhaust)
John Dandash Front end inspect & alignment (Pro A-Line & Brakes)
Jim & Angie Dentice Donation (Vet – Navy Frogman)
David DiLucente Suggested Lee Brice's "I Drive Your Truck" song
Dennis DiLucente Vice Chief and Logistics (Vet – USMC & Navy)
A.B. DiLucente Sewed booster seat and made scrapbook (Vet – Navy)
Charlie Farnsworth Electrical wiring (Vet – Army)
Andy Gaspar Donation & Logos (WF- Freedom Station) (Vet – USMC)
Albert Gutierrez Re-upholstered leather seats (with apprentice Angel)
Marilyn Hanson Sacrificed her "to do" list to free up her husband
Ed Bruce Heye Exhaust components & donation (Heat Shield Products)
Miles Himmel Provided support thru Larry Himmel Foundation (Website)
Horn Blasters Donated Outlaw Chrome Train Horn Kit
Jeff "Kong" Isbell Dash Pinstriping (Kong's Pinstriping)
Bill Ivey Support & Logos (Homes for Our Troops) (Vet – Army)
Shawn Killion Side Steps engrave & powder coats (Quality Powder Coating)
Tom Lazar Donation
Sandy Lehmkuhler Donation (Warrior Foundation – Freedom Station)
Stan & Randy Newkirk Oil cooler tank repair (Kirk's Radiators)
Ryan & Jennifer Ogden Engine steam clean (Asmar's Auto Repair)
Robert Patch Exhaust Manifold & catalytic converters (Toyota) (Vet – Army)
Jay Peterson Truck Cross-Country transport coord. (Enroute2Help)
Roger (of Best Tow) Detailing exterior Semper Fi Fund Provided logos
Mike & Kris Spivey Moral support (Vet – USMC)
Gabe Spoolstra Ed's Apprentice/Welder/horn install (Vet – USMC)
Max Thomson Repaired window levers & spare tire (Active duty USMC)
Julian Torres Provided moral support and spirit charm (Vet – USMC)
VFW-1774 Donation (from the Ladies' Auxiliary) & event space Weather Tek Donated floor mats and CupFone