Rebuilding Together Montgomery County (RTMC) in partnership with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), Adventist Healthcare and other Montgomery County, Maryland, businesses and trades came together to bring needed accessibility improvements to the home of an injured veteran returning from Iraq. The culmination of their efforts was recently celebrated as Army Specialist Ryan C. Major recovers at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C, and prepares to return home.

Specialist Major, 22, suffered severe wounds resulting in the amputation of both legs, damage to both arms, internal injuries, and a traumatic brain injury. The injuries occurred November 9, 2006, when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated near him while searching for suspected bomb makers on foot patrol with his unit in Ramadi. Specialist Major's division had been in Iraq for nearly a year at the time of his injury, and he had previously sustained injuries from grenade shrapnel.

Rebuilding Together and collaborative community partners such as NARI and Adventist Healthcare made Specialist Major's home safe and accessible by installing an elevator, converting a den into a bedroom and building a new wheelchair-accessible bathroom. The initial funding was provided through Sears Holdings Company, and volunteer labor was donated by local Sears and Kmart stores. However, much of the skilled labor and materials was provided by the many local contractors who donated their time and expertise to make Specialist Major's homecoming possible.

In celebration of Specialist Major's return, RTMC recently hosted a tour of the work to demonstrate what like-minded community businesses and individuals can do to support our troops. All of the volunteers and donors had the opportunity to meet Specialist Major and see the full impact of their efforts over the last two months.

Editor's note: RTMC is an affiliate of the national non-profit Rebuilding Together, which has 230 affiliates, mobilizes approximately 270,000 volunteers and renovates more than 9,000 homes per year. Rebuilding Together is celebrating the rehabilitation of its 100,000th home this year. For more information, see www.rebuildingtogether.org.