Disabled Marine veteran spends Fourth of July in Mall for fundraiser

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A disabled veteran of the United States Marines continued his weeklong campout inside the Mall at Barnes Crossing, as part of a fundraiser for those wounded serving the nation.

Scott Burns has been living in the food court at the mall since Sunday afternoon. The Tupelo resident, who was injured during his time in the Marines more than 20 years ago, is raising money for an organization known as “Purple Heart Homes.”

That group helps remodel homes of wounded veterans to help make them handicapped accessible.

Burns said celebrating the Fourth of July during his fundraiser is a huge honor.

“So much, we turn things political, that don’t need to be political and the Fourth of July is one of those things that really doesn’t need to be about politics, it’s about sacrifices made long before we ever came around and we’re able to do this event because of sacrifices many have made before us,” said Burns.

Burns will be at the mall collecting donations through Saturday evening.