Volunteers Create New Home Garden for Paralyzed West Ashley Veteran

Last Updated 7/18/2025Posted in In The News

Article by Anne Emerson, originally published on WCIV, on July 12, 2019

Marine veteran Larry Smoak, a quadriplegic injured after diving into the Stono River shortly after finishing two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, now has something beautiful to wake up to each day: a full garden, thanks to the work of volunteers from Purple Heart Homes and Bank of America. What used to be just a couple of rose bushes is now, as Smoak puts it, a “botanical garden.” The volunteers did all the heavy lifting, and the result is a peaceful, life-giving space for someone who’s been through more than most. One Purple Heart Homes manager called it a blessing just to help bring a smile to Smoak’s face. Smoak’s ultimate goal is to one day care for the garden himself.

Read the original article on WCIV: 

Volunteers create new home garden for paralyzed West Ashley veteran

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