{"id":25503,"date":"2026-06-25T17:08:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T21:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/?p=25503"},"modified":"2026-07-13T17:13:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T21:13:24","slug":"revving-retirement-toyota-partnership-honors-veteran-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/stories\/revving-retirement-toyota-partnership-honors-veteran-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Revving Up Retirement in a New Toyota Highlander for Dedicated Veteran"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Imagine receiving an email out of the blue telling you that you\u2019ve just won a brand-new car. For U.S. Marines Corps and Army National Guard veteran Steve Lawrence, that email didn\u2019t seem legitimate. After all, he joked with his wife, \u201cif it sounds too good to be true, then it probably isn\u2019t true.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, it was an unexpected moment of recognition made possible through the Committed to America’s Heroes Sweepstakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Partnership that Honors Service <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Steve<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Steve was announced as the 2026 winner of the Committed to America\u2019s Heroes Sweepstakes<\/a> at a livestreamed celebration at Toyota of Muncie in Muncie, Indiana on June 16. Now in its eighth year, the sweepstakes provides an opportunity to recognize members of the military community through the presentation of a new Toyota vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Made possible through a longstanding partnership between Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) and Toyota North America, with support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the sweepstakes provided an opportunity to recognize members of the military community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Shift in Gears for the Journey Ahead <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Selected at random from thousands of entries, Steve chose a new Toyota Highlander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Steve and his wife, the Highlander will help them continue doing something they both love: traveling together. Their first planned road trip is to Indianapolis, where Steve looks forward to showing his children and grandchildren his new vehicle. His wife will be in the passenger seat for the Highlander\u2019s first trip, at least, Steve joked, \u201cuntil it\u2019s her turn to drive.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Lifetime of Duty <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Steve\u2019s military career spans more than three decades of service. He began in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving from 1974 to 1978 as a military policeman at the tail end of the Vietnam conflict. His assignments took him to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Camp Pendleton, and the Naval Weapons Station in Oakland, California.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He later continued his service in the Army National Guard, first in Ohio and then in Indiana. Activated to full-time status on two occasions, Steve ultimately concluded his military career with a tour in Afghanistan as a Major.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was always proud to wear the uniform both as a young Marine and later as a seasoned Army Officer,\u201d Steve reflected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After his military career, Steve spent 20 years working as a mold maker for Ardagh Group\u2019s bottle division before retiring. Today, he enjoys target shooting, traveling with his wife, and spending time with his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n