The Jones Company has the honor and the privilege to be building two homes with Homes for Our Troops.
Meet Our Heroes…
LCpl Ben Maenza
http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BenMaenza
Marine Lance Corporal Benjamin Maenza was 3 weeks into his first deployment when he lost both of his legs and suffered injuries to his arm as the result of a bomb blast in Sangin, Afghanistan on October 21, 2010. While on foot patrol, Maenza and his team crossed a river and began making their way along the other side when a pressure plated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was triggered after being stepped on. LCpl. Maenza suffered traumatic amputations to both of his legs, requiring lifesaving measures to prepare him for helicopter transport to the nearest hospital. Airlifted to Camp Bastion, LCpl. Maenza was next sent to Landstuhl, Germany before arriving stateside at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center in Maryland in late October 2010. Ben has endured over a dozen surgeries thus far, and remains at the newly renamed Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for continued treatment and physical therapy.
LCpl. Maenza enjoys working-out, cycling, swimming, and playing wheelchair basketball and volleyball. Pursuing a college degree, Ben looks forward to a future of possibilities where he says, “I want everyone to see me for who I am, not for what I am missing.”
LCpl. Maenza would like to thank all of the donors and volunteers who will make his specially adapted home from Homes for Our Troops a reality. “I really appreciate what everyone does and all of the work they do to support me and other injured service members. Having a specially adapted home from Homes for Our Troops will give me back my independence. Thank you.”
SPC Andrew Wilson
http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Andrew%20Wilson
Army SPC Andrew Wilson was on his first deployment when he suffered the amputations of his right leg below the knee, and his left leg above the knee, after stepping on an IED while on a foot patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan on October 19, 2011. While patrolling in an area that had been the location of an IED explosion 3 days earlier, SPC Wilson was part of the team clearing the “Red Zone”. Stepping on a pressure plate, only 2 feet from the bomb itself, Andrew and his best friend were both blown into the air by the blast. With his platoon frantically working to save his life, and as his low blood pressure prevented him from receiving any morphine to numb the pain, Andrew’s platoon talked and sang to him while carrying him for 700 meters (nearly half a mile) to the medevac helicopter. Transported to local hospitals, SPC Wilson was stabilized in-country and airlifted to Landstuhl, Germany before arriving at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland where he continues his treatments and therapies at this time.
SPC Wilson enjoys running, scuba diving, and target shooting. He looks forward to returning to college and earning a degree in physical therapy, and eventually becoming a personal trainer. He is looking forward to living in the area where he was raised and being close to his parents and siblings.
SPC Wilson would like to thank those who have been encouraging him on his journey to recovery. When asked if there was something he would like to share with those who are helping to make his specially adapted home a reality he shared the following: “Having an adapted home will provide a comfort physically, mentally, and financially which will greatly reduce any anxiety about my future; something I have worried about since the moment of my injury. Thank you for supporting me and this amazing organization.”
UPCOMING EVENT DATES:
Saturday, April 13th
10AM - NOON
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
for LCp Ben MAENZA & family
at Hemmingwood (Brentwood)
&
Sunday, April 14th
10AM-NOON
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
for SPC Andrew WILSON & family
at NOLEN PARK (Nolensville)
More information on Homes for Our Troops and these specific heroes can be found here: http://www.homesforourtroops.org
MORE INFORMATION TO COME…
