Donald Burton has a new mobile deer hunting blind to accommodate his needs as a disabled veteran and to satisfy his passion for hunting.
The custom trailer is the work of Welding Technology Instructor Dorman Vick and his welding students at Samuel V. Champion High School in Boerne.
Burton was presented the trailer on Thursday. Vick said the project, which took 40 days to complete, was special because of Burton’s remarkable service and sacrifice.
“He is a true brave American hero. Mr. Burton came to us in January, asking if we could build him a blind to put on top of his trailer. But after getting him and his wife into our shop, we realized he deserved way better than that,” Vick told the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Radio Network. “After going out and finding some awesome donations to help get everything donated, we were able to build him a trailer from the ground up, which will enable up to two disabled veterans and a guide to be able to hunt out of it.”
Vick said Burton, who is a quadriplegic, has spent over 20 years in rehabilitation to gain the mobility he needs to shoot a rifle again.
“Being a program that has a lot of students, including myself, who are active hunters, it really touched close to home. It was a great teaching tool,” he said. “Out of all of the projects we’ve ever done, it’s probably the most special project we’ve ever done. It was a priceless learning experience for the students.”
Vick said special support for the project was provided by Schulte Building Systems, Southwest Gooseneck, SBS Construction, Tractor Supply of Boerne, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, The Graphix House, George Montegue and Shea Davis.