Veterans, First Responder Receive Free Cars For Veterans Day

DALLAS, TX — Two veterans and one deputy sheriff received life-changing gifts at the American Airlines SkyBall at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport on Friday. Caliber Collision and Allstate joined forces to present these men and their families with "Recycled Rides," or free cars given to those in need.

Lance Corporal Demondre D. Magee, Master Sergeant Clinton Woodford and Erath County Sheriff’s Deputy Dustin Paulsen were surprised with those vehicles. Representatives from Caliber Collision and Allstate called the unknowing recipients and their families to the stage and later unveiled the cars to the families.

Each of the recipients was determined to be in great need. Magee, for example, is the main financial caretaker for his mom and three younger siblings. Before Friday, he had to borrow his mother's car, which he said put a burden on himself and his family.

Each vehicle contained other gifts for the recipients, but Magee said he saw them as much more than items.

"I saw a couple of gift cards, speakers," he said. "Blessings is what I call it. I don’t even see it as objects — I call it blessings because I’m just — I don’t know what to say because I’m really overwhelmed right now."

Maria Golseth from Allstate presented the cars to the families in need. She said being a part of the presentation meant more to her because she served as an air traffic controller in the Navy for seven years.

"Being a former Navy veteran myself... and seeing and having friends that have been hurt or pushed to PTSD — I’m going to cry after this," she said. "It means a lot to see a veteran get it. A first responder, 100 percent. They give as much as us here in our own country, but those [military veterans] step across the line, step overseas, and just give selflessly. You can’t beat that."

Erath County Sheriff’s Deputy Dustin Paulsen was seriously injured in 2016 when his patrol car was hit by a drunk driver. He has faced a long road to recovery, and he still walks with the help of crutches. He said the car will help return his independence and ease the burden his family faces in sharing one car.

"We have one car," he said. "But with her getting kids back and forth to school and her work, and me having to get up before work to my doctors’ appointments. It's just a little more independence to get up and do stuff on my own."

Magee said he works hard to be a good role model for his two brothers and one sister. He works two jobs, and said he wants to show his siblings they can be successful with hard work.

"When times are rough, I help out as much as I can — because I live my life for me, but I also have to live it for everyone else in my family," he said. "I feel like if I can show them that I can be successful and make it out and just look over all the negatives, they can do the same. At the end of the day, it’s not about what you do, it’s about what you can do for others."

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Magee's hard work caught the attention of event organizers, and clearly has begun to pay off. "Somebody noticed," he said. "All I can say is someone is always watching."

The cars were donated by Allstate, restored or refurbished Caliber Collision and supported by Airpower Foundation, America's oldest military support foundation.

Image via Payton Potter, Patch