Retired Army Sgt. Michael Verardo, one of America’s most catastrophically wounded post-9/11 veterans, was laid to rest Tuesday with full military honors at Weddington Methodist Church in North Carolina. 

Family, friends, paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division and national leaders gathered to remember a soldier, husband and father whose resilience inspired a nation.

Verardo was one of the most catastrophically wounded veterans of the post-9/11 generation. Verardo’s injuries and his choice to keep living with purpose were honored by those who rose to speak on his behalf.

Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin told mourners she would forever carry the image of Verardo forcing himself upright on his prosthetic leg to salute the American flag. “Michael always stood to salute the flag, even when it was not easy or comfortable to do so,” she said. 

National security correspondent Jennifer Griffin speaks at Sgt. Verardo’s funeral in North Carolina on Tuesday, September 2. (Courtesy of Morgan Amanda Photography)

Together, they built a family. Verardo delighted in being Dad to Grace, known as Gigi, Mary Scott and Elizabeth. Sarah sought to help other families by writing Hero at Home, a children’s book explaining the unseen wounds of war. 

On Tuesday, their eldest daughter, now 11, stood bravely before the congregation. “I am proud of my dad because he fought so long and so hard to stay alive for us. He never gave up,” Gigi said. “If I could tell him one thing right now, it would be thank you. Thank you for being my dad. I love you. I promise I will never forget you, and you’ll be part of everything I do every single day.”

Even as he endured his own battles, Verardo devoted himself to lifting others. With Sarah, he championed the Independence Fund’s Trackchairs program, giving wounded warriors freedom of movement once thought lost, and Operation Resiliency, a lifeline for veterans struggling after war aimed at reuniting veterans to prevent suicide. His work became a mission of service beyond the battlefield, proof that sacrifice could be transformed into hope for others.

Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division carry the casket of Sgt. Michael Verardo, who was laid to rest in North Carolina on Sept. 2, 2025. (Courtesy of Morgan Amanda Photography)

Those who knew him best testified to the depth of that mission. “He could have gone home after the first injury, but not Mike,” said Sen. Thom Tillis. “He was committed to the mission. Back home, he made it his mission to recover, to raise a family, to help others. Michael never fully recovered from his wounds on that battlefield, but he did not let that stop him. Mission accomplished, my friend.”

Former Vice President Mike Pence spoke of a soldier whose faith never dimmed. “Through it all, he smiled, radiating a faith and courage that inspired everyone he encountered. This time last week, on the far side of forever, someone else smiled first. And Michael, now whole again, heard the words: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’.”

The sanctuary was filled with Verardo’s comrades, paratroopers, medics, and brothers-in-arms, a gathering that Col. Adam Armstrong called a testament to his character. 

Sarah Verardo delivers remarks during the funeral service for her husband, Sgt. Michael Verardo, at Weddington Methodist Church in North Carolina. (Courtesy of Morgan Amanda Photography)

Addressing Verardo’s daughters, Col. Armstrong said: “Your father was the best of all of us. It is rare indeed for so many of a man’s comrades to converge… a testament to what your dad meant to us all.” 

Sarah Verardo, center, wipes away tears as she sits with her daughters during the funeral for her husband, Sgt. Michael Verardo, in North Carolina. (Courtesy of Morgan Amanda Photography)

Sgt. Michael Verardo’s life was defined by sacrifice, resilience, and devotion. His legacy will endure in the courage of his brothers-in-arms in the Bravo Company, the 2nd Battalion of the 508th Infantry Parachute Infantry Regiment, and through the advocacy of his wife and the lives of his three daughters.

In her farewell, Sarah gave him a fitting benediction. “Michael, you did it. You fought the bad guys, you finished the race, you completed the mission. I’ve got it from here. I love you.”