‘It means everything’: Veteran surprised with a new car

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - A veteran was surprised with a new car.

Freedom Alliance and U.S. Bank partnered together to help Robert Luke Cureton, a veteran who was injured while serving.

In the past, Freedom Alliance gave scholarships to Cureton’s children to attend the University of Alabama.

This week, it presented the family with a 2024 Jeep Cherokee to help them as Cureton goes to his rehabilitation appointments.

“It’ll definitely help with the financial freedom of being able to use that money that we normally would use for a car to be able to do things to take care of ourselves a little bit more,” Cureton said.

When he saw the car, Cureton said he was overwhelmed with gratitude.

“I was like ‘Oh my goodness!’” he said. “I think I’m still trying to register what’s going on right now.”

Cureton is also grateful to his fellow soldiers who made sacrifices on the battlefield.

“There’s a lot of friends that aren’t here today so that I can be here today, so this car is a reminder to them as well,” he said.

Freedom Alliance President Tom Kilgannon said giving veterans these opportunities means the world to him.

“When you can do that for somebody who has deployed multiple times, who served over 10 years in America’s military, put his life on the line, came home wounded and now struggles with everyday life because of those war injuries, it means everything,” he said.

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