$6K Raised For Family Of Wounded Marine

Funds Allow Family To Travel To Bethesda Naval Hospital

FLEMMING ISLAND, Fla. – Patterson Elementary School in Orange Park has helped raise $6,000 for the daughters of a wounded Marine to travel to see him.

Sgt. John Hayes, who lost both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan, is being treated at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.

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His daughters, who attend the school, will be going to visit their father next month. Southwest Airlines will be flying them up and paying for their hotel stay.

Hayes, who grew up in Clay County, stepped on a bomb in December while stationed in Afghanistan.

Hayes' wife, Janel, and three daughters were living in Okinawa, Japan, where Hayes was stationed. They returned to the states with Hayes after his injury.

Hayes has done multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hayes' family has been taking donations through Facebook to raise funds to travel to Maryland to see him.