Ironwolf
Senior Member
Jay Leno Takes a Wounded Vet with a Joyride and Then Thanks Him with the Gift of a Lifetime
Jay Leno is well-known for his love of cars: the former Tonight Show host even has a television show entitled Jay Leno’s Garage.
Leno’s other passion? Showing his appreciation for our country’s veterans. And he recently got the opportunity to meet Corporal Ethan Laberge on the Today Show:
Image credit: Screenshot Leno sat down with the veteran, and the two quickly discovered they had something in common: their penchant for automobiles.
Image credit: Dodge Motor Company When Laberge was asked if he wanted to take the car out for a ride, he responded, ‘Hell yeah!’
The two took a joyride through some back roads near Laberge’s army post, chowed down on barbeque, and talked about life after Laberge’s injury.
Jay Leno is well-known for his love of cars: the former Tonight Show host even has a television show entitled Jay Leno’s Garage.
Leno’s other passion? Showing his appreciation for our country’s veterans. And he recently got the opportunity to meet Corporal Ethan Laberge on the Today Show:
Laberge had been on foot patrol in Afghanistan when a suicide bomber drove up and detonated himself, seriously injuring Leberge [sic] and killing two fellow soldiers who had been standing with him.
Laberge was hit with shrapnel in his legs and arms and also suffered a traumatic brain injury, which has caused him memory problems.
Image credit: Screenshot Leno sat down with the veteran, and the two quickly discovered they had something in common: their penchant for automobiles.
Leno, 64, said that when he meets many soldiers, most are barely out of their teens and he finds they’re often worlds apart.
But Leno said he and Leberge [sic] were quickly able to find common ground in their love of cars, and Leno had just the thing for Leberge [sic]: a ride in a 2015 Dodge SRT Hellcat.
But Leno said he and Leberge [sic] were quickly able to find common ground in their love of cars, and Leno had just the thing for Leberge [sic]: a ride in a 2015 Dodge SRT Hellcat.
Image credit: Dodge Motor Company When Laberge was asked if he wanted to take the car out for a ride, he responded, ‘Hell yeah!’
The two took a joyride through some back roads near Laberge’s army post, chowed down on barbeque, and talked about life after Laberge’s injury.
‘Where I’m sitting now, I don’t know exactly how well I’ll recover,’ Leberge [sic] said.
Leno asked if he ever gets discouraged, and while Leberge [sic] said he does find himself down every now and then, family and friends help him make it through.
When the pair returned back to post, Leno had one more surprise for the soldier.Leno asked if he ever gets discouraged, and while Leberge [sic] said he does find himself down every now and then, family and friends help him make it through.
Leberge [sic] gave an instant review of the Hellcat, ‘That was awesome … I wouldn’t mind having one of these.’
‘It’s yours,’ Leno said handing Leberge [sic] the keys. ‘America loves you. Thank you buddy. Have a lot of fun. Don’t get any tickets.’
‘I can’t promise that,’ Leberge [sic] said with a smile.
Though every veteran can’t get a brand new car, they should be thanked each and every day. For our men and women in uniform, that’s more than enough.‘It’s yours,’ Leno said handing Leberge [sic] the keys. ‘America loves you. Thank you buddy. Have a lot of fun. Don’t get any tickets.’
‘I can’t promise that,’ Leberge [sic] said with a smile.
