Peters was told by doctors that he would never be able to walk again. The initial shock of the news was heartbreaking, but he wasn’t going to let this or anything else stop him from living his life.
To this day, Peters remains very active. He participates annually in the Winter Adaptive Ski program and has come down some of Taos Ski Valley’s toughest runs. He, along with other Veterans, hits the slopes as much as 20 times per season.
“Heading down those ski runs really gets my blood moving!” Peters exclaimed. “I look forward to the winter months, and now with this adaptive motorcycle, I can again travel on my own again!”
Peters stated that when he applied for the grant, he was a little hesitant and didn’t know if it would be approved. Peters went on to say that a few months later, he received the approval letter from the VA which stated the grant was accepted. This program has opened a new chapter in his life, he can now go places without relying on someone else.
Peters was born and raised on a 1,500-acre family farm in Taos, New Mexico. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in November of 1990 after graduating high school. He served in the Army from 1990 to 1996, during the Gulf and Iraq Wars.
He was stationed at several posts across the world as a Logistics Readiness Officer and served three tours of duty in Iraq. His duties included leading teams responsible for transportation, fuel, planning and supply chain management. He also served with the Military Intelligence Battalion (Low Intensity) both in Orlando, FL and down in Panama.
If you are interested and if you are a Veteran or a Service member with certain disabilities, you can receive a grant to purchase a new or used vehicle. These disabilities must be the result of an injury or disease acquired or worsened during active military service. The grant may also cover the following expenses, provided by VA: medical treatment, examination, vocational rehabilitation, compensated work therapy. The grant is paid directly to the seller for the total price (up to $21,488.29) of the vehicle. A Veteran or Service member may only receive the automobile grant once in his or her lifetime. Those who qualify for the automobile grant may also qualify for the adaptive equipment grant. Adaptive equipment includes power steering, power brakes and other modifications to help accommodate the driver. Special equipment needed to assist the recipient into and out of the vehicle is also covered.
For more information you can click on here: https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/Auto.pdf