BRADENTON – Inspired by front line healthcare workers, a Suncoast teen is helping veterans facing homelessness hope for a better tomorrow.
“I find it everyday like a miracle – like I breathe and it’s like I came so far,” said Lorenzo Liberti.
A young community activist in the making – Lorenzo has been a teen on a mission for the past two years.
We first met Lorenzo back on November, the Lakewood Ranch teen says he was compelled to do something after volunteering at his local church and realizing how many veterans are homeless.
“Of course I had a heart for our service, but I never really understood what service meant,” he said.
Through his project Heroic Flags – Lorenzo’s goal has been to restore honor and help homeless veterans that have fallen on their luck and slipped through the system.
Shocked to see the men and women who fought to protect this country having been forgotten, he embarked on a life-changing journey.
Working from his garage Lorenzo began making rustic American Flags honoring veterans but amid the pandemic he began to honor those battling on the front lines at hospitals against the war on COVID-19.
“These people are serving especially during this just like our veterans do…you see these people behind masks but you never really see their face,” said Lorenzo. “Not only that you don’t get to see their face, you don’t get to know their story.”
Lorenzo made it his goal to create these hand made wooden flags and send them out, placing a heroic flag in one hospital in every state honoring of his mother Martha Liberti and other front line healthcare workers.
“I can’t even explain. Words can’t even explain how proud I am of him,” said Martha.
Of his initial goal of raising $50K in donations Lorenzo was able to raise and donate $30K and gift it to Turning Points Yellow Ribbon Program, aimed to help end homelessness among the veteran community; a cause this young teen calls his calling in life.
“Every person has their own story. You just really have to sit down open it up and read it, ” said Lorenzo.
Lorenzo says he plans to turn the Heroic Flags Project into a non-profit and continue to donate all proceeds from the flags back to Turning Points. To order yours or to make a contribution head over to heroicflags.com
