Service Beyond the Battlefield

This past week, Prince Harry visited Washington D.C. to meet with American veterans, caregivers, and members of the military community. He was hosted and invited by Sarah Verardo, CEO of The Independence Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of veterans and their families.

He began the trip at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), the top United States military hospital, where he met recovering service members and medical staff. Having previously toured the hospital in 2013, the visit offered an opportunity to see firsthand how advances in rehabilitation research and technology are helping wounded, injured and sick service members rebuild strength, independence and confidence.

WRNMMC uses a sports-medicine model to support service members living with limb loss, polytrauma and other severe injuries, with the goal of helping them return to active duty or achieve greater functional independence. 

While touring the facilities, The Duke heard from doctors, hospital staff, and researchers in biometrics, osteointegration, and occupational therapy and saw first-hand how their innovations are changing the lives of wounded service members. Their in-house fabrication capabilities are best-in-class, quickly serving their patients and sometimes designing and fitting a brand new prosthetic in under four hours. The Duke met with wounded service members and veterans completing physical therapy from both the United States and Ukraine reflecting on the exceptional care and camaraderie they have experienced at Walter Reed. 

The Duke also spent time with wounded service members receiving outpatient care and met Walter Reed leadership to discuss rehabilitation and the role programs such as the Invictus Games can play in supporting resilience and recovery. Adaptive sport is embedded in Walter Reed’s approach to rehabilitation, harnessing the competitive spirit of service members while supporting their independence and reintegration into their communities.

Later in the afternoon, The Duke travelled to Arlington National Cemetery to pay tribute to generations of American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, The Duke observed the Changing of the Guard before laying a wreath alongside members of the 19th Special Forces Group. He then visited Section 60, the final resting place of many service members killed during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He met with four Gold Star families and learned about the lives and service of their loved ones, visiting the graves of Specialist Christopher D. Horton, U.S. Army National Guard, killed in action in Afghanistan in 2011; Staff Sergeant James F. “Jimmy” Moriarty, U.S. Army Special Forces, killed in action in Jordan in 2016; Master Sergeant Joshua L. Wheeler, U.S. Army Special Operations, killed in action in Iraq in 2015; and Corporal Ian Thomas Zook, U.S. Marine Corps, killed in action in Iraq in 2004.

The Duke concluded his visit to Arlington at the grave of Army Sergeant Michael Verardo.

Sgt. Verardo, Sarah’s late husband, served as an infantryman and paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division and survived two IED attacks in Afghanistan in 2010. The second left him with catastrophic injuries, and he underwent approximately 120 surgeries over the following 15 years. Alongside his wife, he became a powerful advocate for wounded veterans, caregivers and military families before his death in August 2025 from complications related to his wartime injuries.

His story is a reminder that the consequences of war do not end when a service member leaves the battlefield—and that service, sacrifice and recovery reverberate through families and communities for years to come.

The day concluded with a roundtable convened by The Independence Fund, bringing together wounded service members, veterans, adaptive athletes and advocates for a conversation about what comes after military service. The discussion explored how adaptive sport can support long-term recovery; where veterans and their families continue to encounter gaps in care; and what the United States and its allies can learn from one another to strengthen support for the global community of service.

Participants discussed the importance of access to specialized equipment and local adaptive sports programs; the invisible effects of traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress and chronic pain; the essential role played by caregivers and families; and the importance of ensuring veterans have opportunities to lead, mentor, and shape the programs and policies intended to serve them.

Continuing his focus on lifelong veteran care, The Duke finished his trip at Washington VA Medical Center—a flagship facility that serves over 125,000 veterans every year across the D.C. region. His visit began with a tour of the Community Living Center, where he spent time with older veterans in residence at the Center receiving long-term geriatric care, as well as those in hospice and specialized mental health units. Moving through the physical therapy, radiation, oncology, and women’s health departments, The Duke learned about the tailored clinical pathways supporting veterans’ daily care, including music therapy, art therapy, and puppy therapy (courtesy of resident therapy dog Bowie). 

From the rehabilitation facilities of Walter Reed and the graves of Arlington, to the essential care wards of the VA Medical Center, and illuminating conversations with veterans throughout, the two days reflected a shared commitment that has been central to The Duke’s work for more than a decade: ensuring those who serve, and the families who serve alongside them, are supported and valued not only in moments of crisis or active service, but throughout their entire lives.

Through the Invictus Games Foundation and his continued work with the global service community, The Duke remains committed to advancing recovery through sport, strengthening the bonds between veterans and their communities, and ensuring that service is met with enduring support long after the battlefield.

Photo Credit: Lindsay Hart for The Office of The Duke of Sussex