Retired firefighter journeys to raise money for veteran

Soon, he would be riding off on his Harley-Davidson Electra Glide, packed only with bare essentials, for a 3,700-mile journey across the country.

“It’s an adventure,” Moore said. “It’s going to be a long ride.”

Monday marked the beginning of Moore’s cross-country ride to raise money for Purple Heart Homes, a nonprofit organization that provides housing solutions to disabled veterans.

He will be stopping at several fire stations in New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi to collect donations.

Moore was sent off by his daughter, 2nd Lt. Meaghan Maki, from the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where she works in the 355th Logistical Readiness Squadron.

“I’m excited for him,” Maki said. “I’m glad that he found something so cool to do after retirement.”

It has been only weeks since Moore retired from a fire department in Missoula, Montana, where he served for 26 years. He trekked to Tucson to see his daughter before kicking off his weeks-long journey.

Moore’s ride aims to raise funds to help renovate a home for a disabled Marine, Lance Cpl. Scott Burns, his wife and three children in Tupelo, Mississippi.

It’s part of a larger campaign by Purple Heart Homes and the Home Depot Foundation to build easier access and a handicapped-accessible bathroom for Burns, said Vicki Thomas, communications director of Purple Heart Homes.

Burns, who served in the Marine Corps between 1967 and 1975, broke his left ankle during a training exercise. Since then, he went through 15 surgeries over the years and ended up getting his leg amputated just below the knee, Thomas said.

Moore and Burns have not met yet, but they will soon.

On May 16, there will be a kickoff event in Tupelo to officially launch the renovation project for Burns. Moore will be there.

The community, including the Tupelo mayor, will be there to support Burns, who Thomas said has selflessly raised funds for other disabled veterans through his own charity, 7 Days for the Troops.

Moore said he has always had an interest in helping veterans. He was in the Air Force for six years before he was a firefighter, and there is a long history of family members who have served, including his daughter.

He also said he respects the way Burns has contributed to helping other veterans.

“My biggest desire is to serve those who serve us,” he said.

Last October, with his retirement impending, he began researching for veterans organizations to partner with, he said. He chose Purple Heart Homes because he felt that it could help him logistically and also because it uses more of the funding to directly help veterans.

Moore said he is hoping to raise about $3,000 to $5,000, but he is not setting out with a specific amount in mind. He already has raised about $1,200.

On his journey, he is hoping to stay with other firefighters to reduce costs. Otherwise, he has a tent and a sleeping bag.

“The whole trip itself — it’s all kind of a big unknown,” he said. “And I like that.”