PEORIA, Ariz. — Fourteen years after being shot and paralyzed in the line of duty, an Arizona police officer was able to stand for the national anthem with the help of a high-tech wheelchair.
A photograph posted on Facebook of Investigator William “Bill” Weigt presenting the American flag at the opening of the Arizona Special Olympics went viral, with many commenters saying they were moved to tears at the image, Today reports.
“I’d been wanting to stand for the national anthem for 14 years,” Weigt told Today. “I was a little overwhelmed at first, but it was so exciting.”
Weight became paralyzed after he was shot during a suspect pursuit in 2005. He told KPHO that, as a former United States infantry soldier, it meant a lot to him to be able to ‘finally’ stand for the flag.
