Patriots’ David Andrews Surprises Military Veteran With More Than Just The Lombardi Trophy At Gillette

Patriots center David Andrews did his best to convert a Buffalo Bills fan during his appearance at Gillette Stadium.

US Army Sergeant Brandon Korona, his wife Chelsea, and their dog, Ace, visited the Patriot stadium last Friday for an interview with WCVB News Center 5’s Dough Meehan to share his story ahead of this years Harvard Pilgrim Finish at the 50 road races at Patriots Place and Gillette Stadium on Wednesday, July 3.

This year’s Finish at the 50 is organized to benefit Brandon and Chelsea with donation to Homes For Our Troops from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, the New England Patriots Foundation and Patriots Place. Homes For Our Troops is a nonprofit organization founded to build and donate specially adapted custom homes for injured post-9/11 veterans. This organization will give Brandon and his wife a home.

Brandon is a native of Raynham, Mass. He served the US Army as a combat engineer with the 2^nd Brigade Combat Team, 10^th Mountain Division for five years. Brandon suffered terrible injuries during his first deployment in Afghanistan in June 2013 while on a routine clearance mission with his unit. A vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in Paktika Province, Afghanistan. Brandon was unconscious and broke his right ankle and every single bone below the left knee.

It took him two yeas to recover at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. before he returned to his home in Massachusetts. Brandon spent four year in pain and poor life quality while trying to keep his left leg. He couldn’t put up with the situation, and decided to have his lower left leg amputated.

Homes For Our Troops was informed about Brandon’s story. The organization informed him and his wife that they will be provided with a specially adapted custom home. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and the Patriots foundation joined forces and donated $50,000 to Homes For Our Troops to support their initiative and give Brandon a home. Patriot Place is donating part of the Finish at the 50 race proceeds from each runner’s registration to contribute to the project.

“This house is completely life changing,” Brandon told WCVB. “It gives us an opportunity to actually move forward with our lives.”At the end of the interview, David came through the midfield tunnel carrying the Super Bowl LIII Lombardi Trophy in his hand. Brandon and Chelsea were also invited to the Patriots season opener and Super Bowl LIII banner unveiling on Sept. 8 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium.