On September 11, 2001, Christopher Lawrence was solely within the ninth grade in Wisconsin, however he determined shortly after the tragedy that day that he needed to serve within the U.S. navy.
By 2005, Christopher was a U.S. Marine. Solely two years into his stint, in August of 2007, he was Sgt. Christopher Lawrence, a fireplace workforce chief with the third Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, when each of his legs have been severely broken in an improvised explosive machine (IED) explosion because the battalion was crossing a bridge in Al Anbar, Iraq. He additionally suffered injury to his left arm, had inner accidents, tinnitus and a traumatic mind damage. He was in a coma for per week, after being evacuated first to Al Asad Air Base after which to Landstuhl, Germany. After being returned to the U.S., he underwent quite a few surgical procedures and intensive rehabilitation to avoid wasting his legs and arm.
However, whereas navy medical doctors have been in a position to save his left leg, his proper leg was amputated on the knee in March of 2008 and the toes on his left foot have been amputated in August of the next yr.
Manner too lots of our navy service women and men have tales like Christopher’s and lots of of their tales don’t finish nicely.
However, Properties For Our Troops (HFOT), a 501(c)(3) navy nonprofit, is doing its half to assist these courageous former troopers, Marines and different injured navy veterans by constructing specifically tailored properties to assist them be capable of carry out on a regular basis actions these of us who haven’t suffered all these accidents take as a right — like going to the toilet, having a shower or bathtub, cooking for themselves, and so on.
In line with its govt director Invoice Ivey, since its inception in 2004, HFOT has accomplished 407 such properties in 45 states, together with as many as 5 right here in Pasco County, with no less than two others already accomplished in Wesley Chapel.
“The Tampa Bay space has been a well-liked selection for the vets we construct properties for,” mentioned Ivey throughout the particular recognition “kickoff” ceremony on Apr. 5 held on the Pinecrest Academy of Wesley Chapel on S.R. 54 for Sgt. Lawrence, his spouse Michelle (Chelly) and their younger daughters DeliaMarie and Cristiana. Throughout the subsequent six months to a yr (relying upon climate and different elements), they’ll all transfer into their new Wesley Chapel house.
The household has been residing in Southern California, the place Sgt. Lawrence has continued to function a member of the San Diego Police Division. Christopher, who grew up in a foster household, mentioned he selected Wesley Chapel for his HFOT house by Kent Customized Properties as a result of he has a brother who lives “not too distant” in Jacksonville and, particularly, for the local weather and proximity to the famend James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa.
The occasion at Pinecrest Academy itself was spectacular, as an escort of Pasco hearth vans (picture above), Sheriff’s Workplace and Florida Freeway Patrol automobiles and a motorbike motorcade led the Lawrence household to the doorway to the varsity, the place they have been greeted by a cheering, adoring crowd of native residents all waving American flags. As soon as inside, HFOT’s Jocelyn Phipps first requested anybody in attendance who had served within the U.S. navy to face to be acknowledged. Phipps then launched the Wiregrass Ranch Excessive colour guard and Autumn Rae Estes, who sang a stirring rendition of our nationwide anthem, adopted by Sgt. Lawrence’s daughter DeliaMarie main the 100+ attendees within the Pledge of Allegiance.
Then, Phipps launched this system’s audio system. The primary was Jerry Custin of U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis’ workers, who gave Sgt. Lawrence and his household a correctly folded American flag and a Certificates of Congressional Recognition (prime picture). Subsequent up was Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman, who talked about that he and Sgt. Lawrence have been solely a yr aside in class on 9/11 and the way they went on diverging paths after that terrorist assault on our nation. Weightman was adopted by Tampa Metropolis Councilman Luis Viera, who thanked Sgt. Lawrence for standing up for his nation and “for dealing with vital challenges for all of us.”
Additionally talking have been long-time HFOT supporter and Vietnam veteran Leo Eineker, earlier HFOT house recipient Sgt. Russell Carter (his HFOT house is in Lithia), Chelley Lawrence, Ivey and a clearly moved and appreciative Sgt. Lawrence himself. Additionally readily available was one other HFOT house recipient, Military Grasp Sgt. Christopher Blauvelt, whose spouse Bernadette owns B Artistic Portray Studio in The Grove. Their HFOT house is also in Wesley Chapel.
After the shedding of many tears and the shared camaraderie of everybody on-hand, Jeff and Crista Dean of Bubba’s 33 served scrumptious sandwiches and salad. It was an exquisite occasion.
On a private word, I do know there are quite a lot of charities on the market you’ll be able to help along with your hard-earned cash, however as Ivey mentioned so poignantly throughout his remarks, “Properties For Our Troops isn’t a charity. We’re a navy nonprofit, however we imagine that what we’re doing by constructing these properties is doing the very best we will to pay again these veterans who risked every little thing and sacrificed a lot for all of us. And, practically 90 cents of each greenback we elevate goes instantly again to help the veterans, which not too many nonprofits can say.”
He additionally famous that HFOT doesn’t obtain any governmental help and that 65 cents of each greenback the group raises comes from non-public donors, with the opposite 35 cents coming from company sponsors. “We don’t spend huge cash on TV commercials,” Ivey added. “Our mission is to offer these deserving injured veterans with a house the place they’ll elevate a household (the common measurement of an HFOT house is about 2,800-sq.- ft.) and dwell as independently as doable.”
To make a donation or for extra details about Properties For Our Troops, go to HFOTUSA.org.
