This moment also marks a milestone for the organization \u2014 their first wish granted in the state of Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe this out-of-state wish was made possible because of the growing awareness of American Hero Wishes and the reputation we\u2019ve built over several years of granting wishes,\u201d posted Houck.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery new state we serve means another community where combat-injured veterans know they are seen, valued, and supported. It\u2019s a reminder that even a single act of kindness can create a lasting impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
Houck hopes this wish serves as a meaningful reminder to this veteran that his service and sacrifice are deeply appreciated and not forgotten.<\/p>\n
Zac is a veteran of the Global War on Terror who served six years in the Army, with more than half of that time across three deployments to Iraq as a combat medic.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike so many of our recipients, he continues to carry both the physical and mental weight of a difficult and demanding conflict,\u201d Houck said in a statement to MediaNews Group.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things that brings Zac joy is playing guitar, which he taught himself to do, and it has become an important source of comfort and expression for him,\u201d Houck continued. \u201cHe also hopes that one day he will be able to pass that guitar down to one or more of his four children, creating a lasting connection through something he has worked hard to learn and enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Berks](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787134372_509_REG-L-heroWish2026-01.jpeg\")
Berks County-based nonprofit American Hero Wishes gifted a guitar to a combat-injured veteran in Pensacola, Fla. One of the things that brings Zac joy is playing guitar. It has become an important source of comfort and expression. (Photo courtesy of American Hero Wishes)<\/p>\n
Houck\u2019s hope is that this experience reinforces for Zac that he is valued, appreciated, and deserving of recognition.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany veterans, including Zac, often feel they are not deserving of special acknowledgment, but I believe his courage, his service in a combat role, and the sacrifices he has made warrant nothing less than sincere gratitude and honor,\u201d said Houck.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbove all, I hope this wish brings him encouragement, healing, and a renewed sense of how much his service means to the nation he served,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
She also would like to highlight the exceptional character of Zac and all of the veterans the nonprofit has had the privilege of serving.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery veteran who has received a wish through American Hero Wishes continues to serve others in some capacity. They are among the most selfless people I have ever met, consistently working to make their communities and our country better,\u201d said Houck.<\/p>\n
Zac and his wife, Shannon, are passionate advocates for improving the lives of individuals experiencing poverty in their local community.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike our previous recipients, Zac embodies qualities such as humility, gratitude, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to helping others. These are virtues I believe are shared by so many of the men and women who have served our nation,\u201d said Houck.<\/p>\n
This is the nonprofit\u2019s fifth year since its first wish was granted in 2022, which is especially exciting for Houck as the nonprofit\u2019s founder.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to grow steadily, and media coverage like this helps introduce our mission to more people who may know a veteran in need,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Supported by donations and fundraisers, the nonprofit works throughout the year to build the funds necessary to fulfill a veteran\u2019s wish.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe purpose of American Hero Wishes is to grant wishes of disabled veterans who suffered long-term ailments while serving our country in the military,\u201d said Houck.<\/p>\n
Past wishes include a custom-built shed, a greenhouse, and an outdoor sauna, as well as a dog-washing station and $6,000 to support K9s For Warriors in San Antonio, Texas.<\/p>\n
Houck credits her relationships with the nonprofit\u2019s board members and the relationships she has built with veterans and their families for making this year\u2019s out-of-state wish possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery veteran knows someone whose life could be positively impacted by an experience like this. In fact, our last two wish recipients were nominated by veterans we had previously served,\u201d said Houck. \u201cThat means a great deal to me because it shows we\u2019ve earned their trust, and they\u2019re confident enough in our mission to recommend us to others.\u201d<\/p>\n
A veteran herself, Houck attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point after graduating from Daniel Boone High School in 2002.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat motivates me to continue pursuing the mission of American Hero Wishes is my personal commitment to supporting active-duty service members and veterans while making a meaningful, lasting impact on the lives of those who were willing to sacrifice everything for our country,\u201d said Houck.<\/p>\n
She served in the Army from July 2002 until health concerns discontinued her military service in 2005. During her service, she received the National Service Medal.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore I entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, I had a clear vision for my future that centered on serving in the Army for an entire career. I never imagined taking a different path, but God had other plans,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
After she was medically discharged, Houck made a promise to herself that she would continue serving our military and veteran communities in whatever way she could.<\/p>\n
\u201cFounding American Hero Wishes and building it into a respected nonprofit organization has become one of the most meaningful ways I\u2019ve been able to honor that promise,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Her USOA Ms. Pennsylvania 2022 platform, Operation Helping Our Heroes, was dedicated to the men and women who have served and are serving in the military.<\/p>\n
From that platform, American Hero Wishes came to fruition. She established it as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2022 to grant the wishes of veterans who were wounded either physically, mentally, or both while serving.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mission of American Hero Wishes is to uplift and venerate our nation\u2019s combat-injured veterans,\u201d said Houck. \u201cMany veterans face physical, emotional, and mental challenges long after their military service ends. My board members and I are committed to ensuring they never question the significance of their sacrifices or the gratitude our country owes them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wouldn\u2019t be celebrating 250 years as an independent nation if it weren\u2019t for veterans like Zac who answered the call to serve,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Another powerful source of motivation for Houck is witnessing the impact the nonprofit\u2019s wishes have on the veterans they serve.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeeing their smiles, their joy, and their heartfelt reactions is more rewarding than anything I could ever receive,\u201d said Houck. \u201cKnowing that our organization has created a memorable experience and reminded a veteran that their service and sacrifice are valued is what keeps me moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThose moments reinforce why this mission matters and inspire me to continue working diligently on behalf of veterans like Zac,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Her long-term goal for American Hero Wishes is to grant at least one wish to a deserving veteran in every U.S. state. Since granting their first wish in 2022, the nonprofit has had the privilege of serving veterans in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, and now Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope to continue expanding our reach so that more combat-injured veterans across the country experience the appreciation, recognition, and encouragement they have so richly earned,\u201d said Houck.<\/p>\n
The future goals for American Hero Wishes are to continue granting wishes to deserving combat-injured veterans in states where the nonprofit has not yet served while expanding the organization\u2019s reach and impact nationwide.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also want to continue building our brand, strengthening community partnerships, and increasing our fundraising efforts so we can grow sustainably.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ultimately, her hope is that American Hero Wishes reaches the point where it can grant more than one wish each year, allowing them to honor and uplift even more veterans and their families.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery additional wish represents another opportunity to thank a veteran for their service and sacrifice in a meaningful and lasting way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Houck said none of this would be possible without the unwavering support of individuals and organizations in our community.<\/p>\n
\u201cGranting wishes \u2014 especially one outside our home state \u2014 requires resources, generosity, and people who believe in what we\u2019re doing,\u201d said Houck.<\/p>\n
She would like to personally thank American Legion Post 626 in Birdsboro for its continued support of the nonprofit\u2019s mission, as well as Faith Lutheran Church in Mount Penn.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd every individual who has helped make these meaningful moments possible for the veterans who so courageously served our country,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Houck also wants to recognize her family, especially her parents, Glen and Carol Houck, who have stood behind American Hero Wishes since day one.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m deeply grateful to everyone who believes in our organization and helps us make these wishes a reality!\u201d<\/p>\n
Learn more about American Hero Wishes at www.americanherowishes.org<\/a>. Follow on Facebook<\/a> and Instagram to stay up to date on its mission, veterans, and the lives being impacted through the generosity of supporters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Berks County-based nonprofit American Hero Wishes recently granted its fifth veteran wish, gifting a guitar to a combat-injured…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":267921,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[349,7324,182,28,128,130,129,1015],"class_list":["post-268089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-reading","tag-berks-county","tag-birdsboro","tag-local-news","tag-pennsylvania","tag-reading-city","tag-reading-city-headlines","tag-reading-city-news","tag-top-stories-mer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=268089"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268089\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/267921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=268089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=268089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=268089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}