Planting Seeds of Hope Announces Keynote for February 24th Event
Sgt. Rick Yarosh is a Purple Heart recipient and nationally renown motivational speaker from Vestal, NY. He is also the expert on HOPE for Sweethearts & Heros, directed by Tom Murphy, of St. Albans, VT. For more than 16 years, Sweethearts & Heros has made presentations to more than 2 million students across the country.
Sgt. Yarosh was deployed to Iraq in December 2005. On Sept. 1, 2006, he was severely burned by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Abu Ghraib. For half a year, he recovered at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX, fighting through 2nd & 3rd degree burns over more than 60% of his body. His right leg was amputated below the knee. He also lost both ears, his nose, multiple fingers, and most of the function of his hands. He says the only reason he would change that fateful moment is if he could bring back his brothers in arms that he lost in combat: Sgt. Luis Montes and SFC Anthony Venetz.
Sgt. Yarosh has spoken to and inspired millions of people from all walks of life, including sports teams, schools, churches, military groups, and non-profits. For his heroic service, he received the Purple Heart.
During Veterans Day week of 2024, Sgt. Yarosh released A Bridge Named Amos, the inspiring, true story of his hero and service dog, Amos, who died in October 2024, just before the book went to press. Born on Christmas Day, Amos was a loveable, black lab who traveled with Yarosh over thousands of miles to hundreds of schools with Sweethearts & Heros. Together, they taught children and adults how to overcome challenges, celebrate differences and embrace empathy. A Bridge Named Amos is told from Amos’ warm perspective, and it comes with a free downloadable workbook illustrated by Kevin Cannon, a NY art school teacher.
