Lowe's employees help fix veteran's wheelchair

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Vietnam veteran Michael Sulsona was visiting a Staten Island Lowe’s when his wheelchair broke shortly before closing.

Three employees of the home improvement store stepped in and put his wheelchair back together.

Sulsona was so touched by their kindness he wrote a letter to his local paper, which they published.

“In 1971, I stepped on a land mine in Vietnam and lost both legs above the knee,” Sulsona wrote.

The vet went on to say he’s been waiting two years for a new wheelchair from the Veterans Administration.

Sulsona said the actions of David, Marcus and Souleyman “showed me there are some who still believe in stepping to the plate.”

Following the incident at Lowe’s and his letter to SILive, Sulsona received a custom wheelchair from the VA.

A VA spokesperson from VA New York/New Jersey Healthcare Network provided BuzzFeed with this statement about the incident:

We were very sorry to hear about the reported circumstances surrounding Mr. Sulsona’s request for a new wheelchair. We quickly investigated and can report the Veteran’s new custom wheelchair was delivered to him today and it along with his backup will be serviced by the VA as needed.

Too many Veterans wait too long to receive their care and benefits, and this has never been acceptable. Providing Veterans like Mr. Sulsona the quality care and benefits they have earned through their service is our most important mission at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Through it all, the veteran gives all the credit to the three employees.

“This whole story is based around three good guys,” Sulsona told SILive. “I think it’s really important that we all be like these people who wanted to help me; things would be so much easier.”

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.