Faces of Valor USA to honor local veteran

Annapolis nonprofit continues tradition by lauding wounded Army officer at its annual fundraiser Sunday

Ted Levitt, owner of Chick and Ruth’s Delly in Annapolis, is co-founder and president of Faces of Valor USA, which honors wounded veterans and arranges extra help for those who need it. (Matthew Cole/Baltimore Sun Media Group)

U.S. Army Capt. Luis Avila with his wife, Claudia. Avila, who was severely wounded in 2011 by an explosion in Afghanistan, is this year’s Faces of Valor USA honoree. (Faces of Valor)

For three years U.S. Army Capt. Luis Avila couldn’t see, hear, speak or eat, according to Ted Levitt, president and co-founder of Faces of Valor USA and owner of Chick & Ruth’s Delly on Main Street in Annapolis.

Now as a testament to his progress and to honor his country, Avila will sing “God Bless America” at the local nonprofit’s annual fundraiser Sunday.

Avila, who is this year’s Faces of Valor honoree, was severely wounded in 2011 by an explosion in Afghanistan. He lost a leg and suffered heart attacks, strokes, brain injuries and paralysis.

The Maryland resident’s life revolves around grueling five-day-a-week therapy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Former U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mike Cain is friends with Avila and remembers when he first arrived at Walter Reed, when Cain was recovering from his injuries.

“He couldn’t do anything,” Cain said. “He couldn’t move.”

Cain, a Green Bay Packers fan, knew that Avila, a die-hard Washington Redskins fan, was making progress when Avila started cracking Redskins jokes and “crapping on the Packers.”

“He was even saying ‘Hail to the Redskins,’?” Cain said.

Each year Faces of Valor selects one or more service members — police, fire, emergency medical service or military — to honor for spending time with injured veterans at Walter Reed and finding out who needs additional care.

In years past, Levitt, his wife, Beth, and their team provided supplies for an honoree’s twins for a year, built full-fledged mechanic’s garages, renovated basements, installed elevators, gave handicap-accessible cars and even created “man caves.”

Cain was the recipient of a Ford F-150 Lariat from Faces of Valor, which honored him in June 2013.

He was injured in an explosion in 2003. He lost one limb because of that and another in October of 2013 because of medical complications.

Avila lives with his wife, Claudia, and their three children. They own an old, handicap-accessible minivan, but the whole family can’t fit into the vehicle with Avila’s bulky electric chair.

“We’re buying him a nice handicap-accessible Suburban,” Levitt said.

“He can fit in, his family can fit in and be comfortable and respectable.

“It’s something they deserve.”

Sunday’s event — as in years past — includes a police-escorted motorcycle ride through the streets of Annapolis, a classic car show and a family picnic, complete with DJs and bands, at the Annapolis Elks Club in Edgewater.

Vietnam veteran Ray “Bomber” Rieves is the former president of the Old Line chapter of Nam Knights, an American military veteran and law enforcement motorcycle club.

The Knights support Faces of Valor, and each year they make sure the motorcycle brigade is safe and enjoyable.

The motorcycle tour starts at Outback Steakhouse, passes by the Naval Academy, up Main Street, fittingly past Chick & Ruth’s and by the State House.

“When you see the public come out and cheer,” Rieves said, “it’s warming to your heart, and it’s patriotic.”

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