A Hero’s Legacy: Remembering Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Verardo
Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Verardo, one of the most severely wounded heroes of the Afghanistan war and a Purple Heart recipient, passed away at age 40 on Tuesday due to complications from injuries sustained in combat. President Donald Trump honored him as “a true American Hero” whose courage and sacrifice “will forever inspire us.” Verardo’s story transcends his battlefield sacrifice; it’s about resilience, love, and creating lasting change for wounded veterans across America. On April 24, 2010, while serving in Afghanistan’s Arghandab River Valley, Verardo stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). The devastating blast claimed his left leg, severely damaged an arm, caused extensive burns, and inflicted a traumatic brain injury. He flatlined multiple times but survived through exceptional medical care and sheer determination. Rather than focusing on what he lost, Verardo chose to mark this date as his “Alive Day” each year, celebrating “what I have” instead of dwelling on what was taken.
The road to recovery was arduous, with Verardo enduring 120 surgeries at Walter Reed and Brooke Army Medical Center over four years. Throughout this journey, his high school sweetheart, Sarah Conklin, remained steadfastly by his side. The couple married in 2013, with Verardo expressing his devotion simply: “I’ve loved her as long as I’ve known her.” Together, they built a life and raised three daughters, creating a family founded on love and perseverance despite the daily challenges they faced. Sarah has spoken candidly about the unseen struggles her husband battled after the blast, describing his “poly-trauma, meaning multiple systems suffered catastrophic injury” and noting that recovery was never linear. With profound devotion, she once stated, “Wearing our nation’s uniform was the honor of his lifetime, and caring for him is the honor of mine.”
Verardo’s legacy extends far beyond his personal battle. His experience, and Sarah’s unwavering support, led to the creation of the Independence Fund’s Trackchair initiative for wounded veterans. This program, developed with the support of Fox News viewers, has delivered more than 2,000 all-terrain Trackchairs to double, triple, and quadruple amputees who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam. These specialized chairs provided wounded veterans newfound freedom to hunt, fish, and navigate off-road terrain with their families—simple joys that had been previously inaccessible. The state of North Carolina recognized Verardo’s contributions by declaring April 24 as Wounded Heroes Day, honoring both his sacrifice and his ongoing advocacy for fellow veterans. Despite cognitive difficulties and continuing medical challenges in his later years, he remained a powerful example of resilience to all who knew him.
As CEO of the Independence Fund, Sarah Verardo transformed their personal struggle into a national movement that has touched thousands of lives. She helped launch the Trackchair initiative, which raised millions of dollars and expanded to include Vietnam veterans, ensuring earlier generations of heroes received recognition and support. Sarah understood that triumph takes many forms for wounded veterans: “Some amputees run races on prosthetics, but with others, a victory is simply making it through another day,” she once explained. “I consider both equally inspiring.” In a touching Instagram post following her husband’s death, Sarah wrote, “It was the honor of my lifetime to be his wife. His person. My heart is broken. He fought the good fight every single day and gave us everything he had. I promised him that I will forever do relentless good in his honor.”
President Trump’s tribute captures the essence of Verardo’s impact: “We honor the extraordinary life and service of Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Michael Verardo, a true American Hero, who gave everything for our Nation. After suffering catastrophic injuries from an IED in Afghanistan on April 24, 2010, Michael endured 120 surgeries with unwavering Courage, and the strong support of his incredible wife, Sarah, and three beautiful daughters. Sarah’s tireless advocacy for Wounded Warriors and Military Families exemplifies the Spirit of America. Michael’s Legacy of Resilience, and Sarah’s Selfless Dedication, will forever inspire us. Brave Patriots like Michael, and their families, will never be forgotten.” These words reflect how Verardo’s story has touched hearts across the nation, from fellow veterans to politicians to ordinary Americans who recognize his extraordinary sacrifice and courage.
Michael Verardo will be laid to rest with full military honors on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at Weddington Methodist Church in North Carolina. While his battle may be over, his legacy endures in every wounded veteran who regained independence through a Trackchair, in every family strengthened by the Independence Fund, and in a nation’s collective gratitude. His journey reminds us that honoring heroes extends beyond the battlefield to include supporting them through the long, often difficult path of recovery. Verardo’s life exemplifies how one person’s courage, paired with unwavering love and determination, can create waves of positive change that continue long after they’re gone. In celebrating his life, we recognize not just what he sacrificed for his country, but how he transformed that sacrifice into a force for good that will benefit veterans for generations to come.
