Dierks Bentley’s What the Hell World Tour has been making miles across the globe, but one east coast tour stop has stood above the rest, especially for wounded U.S. Army Sgt. Legrand Strickland.

Before Bentley’s show at Virginia Beach’s Veterans United Amphitheater in July, the country superstar met with Strickland and his wife, Carrie, as part of a weekend long event hosted by Veterans United Home Loans, an organization that assists with VA lending. Bentley and other artists who perform at the Virginia amphitheater also autograph guitars that are later auctioned off to over 2,400 Veterans United employees nationwide. Proceeds from the auction, which raised more than $44,000 last year, aid the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment), which will assist Strickland in building a specially adapted smart home.

Strickland, who was struck by an IED while serving in Afghanistan in 2010, sustained severe injuries at the time and is receiving support from the aforementioned organizations. And meeting Bentley was a major bonus.

“I am incredibly humbled by the generosity of the employees at Veterans United Home Loans for choosing me,” Strickland says in a press release. “Meeting Dierks backstage was an awesome experience and the entire weekend was a great chance to get away with my wife and enjoy ourselves. I can’t express my appreciation enough to Veterans United and the Gary Sinise Foundation.”

The Stricklands, along with their two sons, plan to build their new smart home in St. Louis, Mo.

Country Singers Who Served in the Military

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