70-Year-Old Veteran Walks Miles Every Day to Visit His Wife in a Nursing Home

A 70-year-old veteran from Alabama walks miles every day just so he can visit his wife with dementia who lives in a nursing home.

James Wright said he walks the long distance to see his wife, whom he describes as “the most beautiful woman in the world” because his truck broke down, WVTM reported.

“I don’t care if it’s raining, snowing, or what, I’m going to see my wife. Even if I have to crawl,” Wright said.

Lt. Charles Plitt, an off-duty police officer with the Weaver Police Department, noticed Wright walking down a highway looking exhausted.

Wright flagged Plitt down and told him he could not walk any further because he was recovering from a stroke.

“I tried, but I just can’t make it… I can’t walk no more,” Wright told Plitt. “I just can’t walk no more and I want to see my wife.”

Plitt asked Wright where his wife was and offered to drive him there.

“After he got in, I thought back to how many times I tell people to be cautious about picking up strangers and about being very careful about picking up hitchhikers and such – usually preaching about not doing it at all, but for some reason I knew this situation was different,” Plitt wrote in a Facebook post.

On the way to the nursing home, Wright told Plitt that he was walking to the nursing home because his truck broke down and was determined to make it there since he had not seen his wife in over a week.

Wright also told Plitt he was a veteran who served in the U.S. Army for 22 years and shared stories about the wars he fought.

Once they arrived at the nursing home, Wright was ecstatic.

“You see that window with the shades pulled back? That’s my wife’s room. She’s gonna be so happy I’m here!” Wright exclaimed.

“Tell your wife Lt. Plitt said hello,” Plitt responded.

Plitt said he was touched by Wright and wants to see if there is a way to help fix Wright’s truck or help him out with transportation somehow. He added that his encounter made him think about the true meaning of Memorial Day.

“James is one of many living testaments as to what really matters on this Memorial Day weekend,” Plitt said.