A veteran who lost his leg in Afghanistan helped change Colin Powell’s tire on Capital Beltway Wednesday. Photo credit: Melissa Gottula
by COURTNEY POMEROY, WJLA Post is from ABC3340
WASHINGTON (WJLA) — Former Secretary of State and four-star Army General Colin Powell took to Facebook Thursday to thank a veteran who helped him change his flat tire on the shoulder of I-495.
The good Samaritan identified himself to Powell as Anthony Maggert and, as can be seen in the photos Powell shared, he has one prosthetic leg. He told Powell he lost the leg in Afghanistan when he worked there as a civilian employee.
Both were headed to appointments at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, and they rushed off without exchanging information.
But Powell says he later received this message from Maggert: “Gen. Powell, I hope I never forget today because I’ll never forget reading your books. You were always an inspiration, a leader and statesman. After 33 years in the military you were the giant whose shoulders we stood upon to carry the torch to light the way and now it is tomorrow’s generation that must do the same. Anthony Maggert”
Maggert’s actions “touched my soul and reminded me about what this country is all about and why it is so great,” Powell wrote. “Let’s stop screaming at each other. Let’s just take care of each other.”
