In the face of unexpected violence, most of us freeze. We crumble. We pray. We cry. But a select few stand up, join up and take the fight to the enemy, in the name of justice. This September 11th I am doing something I invite all of you to do as well. I'm posting a video to #ThankAVeteran Thank you #MikeDay Mike is a former Navy SEAL who while on a raid in Iraq was shot 27 times. Astoundingly he survived. He had to learn to walk again, he wore a colostomy bag and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Aches, pains and episodes are a common occurrence for Mike since that night. Like so many others, although Mike is back from war, he continues his own fight everyday here at home. Later this year Mike will compete in and attempt to finish the most difficult race on the planet, the Kona Ironman World Championships. Over 140 miles of swimming, biking and running all in the scorching heat of the Kona sun. This is a man who was blown up by a grenade! Had 16 bullets pass through his body! 11 more absorbed by armor rupturing organs and breaking ribs! And suffered a traumatic brain injury! HE'S DOING THE KONA IRON-MAN!!! And all to raise money for cutting edge traumatic brain injury therapy at the Carrick Brain Center in Dallas, TX.I am donating $10K to his cause. If you have a few extra bucks I encourage you to sponsor him as well. Even $5 helps. The proceeds from the provided crowdrise link will benefit the Carrick Brain Center in Dallas, Texas where Mike and many of our warriors are seeking treatment for their injuries. Check it out.http://www.crowdrise.com/mikedayrunskonaNo matter where you land politically in terms of our countries involvement in foreign affairs, or the two wars we've been in post 9/11 there is no doubting the courage and valor men like Mike Day have shown. He is a warrior in the true sense of the word. And I'd like to think what separates our country from other countries is that we have a population of people who will see to it that Mike and people like Mike are given the care they deserve. If the coverage for this treatment doesn't all come from government funding we are a nation that will pick up the slack through crowdrise funding. Because we love our troops. They protect these USA, a nation not of states, but of people. So we the people must do what we can to protect our heroes in return and lead the world by example. In America we may have our opinions, we don't always agree and our voices are loud. But 14 years ago we were reminded that deep down we are not divided, we are united and strong. We've got each other's backs, despite our differences and will continue to as we move forward. So click and donate right now to help someone like Mike learn to move forward. United we can take the necessary steps toward leaving the war behind overseas and here at home.#GodBlessAmerica.Lastly, I invite you to shoot your own short video thanking someone you know who's worn the uniform and defended our country. using the hashtag: #ThankAVeteran
Posted by Chris Pratt on Friday, September 11, 2015
Chris Pratt fights the bad guys in the movies, but he has huge admiration for the heroes who do it in real life.
That's why today, fourteen years after the tragic terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2011, the Guardians of the Galaxy star made a point to thank a veteran, and he encouraged his fans to do the same.
Pratt, 13, posted a video to Facebook specifically thanking Mike Day, a former Navy SEAL who served in Iraq. While on a raid in Iraq, Day was shot 27 times, but miraculously he survived.
As Pratt explains in his heartfelt video, Day's recovery was far from easy: He suffered a traumatic brain injury and suffers from "aches, pains and episodes" to this day. These setbacks, however, haven't sidelined the vet—quite the opposite. Day is in the midst of training for what Pratt describes as "the most difficult race on the planet,, the Kona Ironman World Championships."
The Parks and Recreation alum marveled at the fact that despite all he's been through, Day is striving to complete the 140 miles of swimming, biking and running. "This is a man who was blown up by a grenade," Pratt exclaimed. "Had 16 bullets pass through his body! 11 more absorbed by armor rupturing organs and breaking ribs! And suffered a traumatic brain injury! HE'S DOING THE KONA IRON-MAN!"
That's not all—Day is raising money to benefit the Carrack Brain Center in Dallas, Texas, which is where he and many other warriors have sought treatment for their injuries. Pratt personally is donating $10,000 to the fundraiser and encouraged his fans to give anything they could.
"No matter where you land politically in terms of our countries involvement in foreign affairs, or the two wars we've been in post 9/11 there is no doubting the courage and valor men like Mike Day have shown," said Pratt. "He is a warrior in the true sense of the word."
"In America we may have our opinions, we don't always agree and our voices are loud," he went on. "But 14 years ago we were reminded that deep down we are not divided, we are united and strong. We've got each other's backs, despite our differences and will continue to as we move forward....United we can take the necessary steps toward leaving the war behind overseas and here at home."
#GodBlessAmerica, indeed. If you'd like to donate to Day's fundraiser, please visit http://www.crowdrise.com/mikedayrunskona