Habitat For Heroes

If you've been following us for awhile, you know how much we appreciate American Heroes... people like Brad Snyder (US Navy), Randy Regan (NYFD), Kevin Killian (SoCal Police), Melissa Stockwell (US Army), Rob Jones (US Marines) and many more!!

US Military Veterans are American Heroes who make tremendous sacrifices and take on extraordinary risks for the benefit of the American public.  It only makes sense that when their service is complete, these Military Veterans should have a place to call home.

And apparently, the SCV Habitat For Heroes agrees!

Habitat For Heroes is a non-profit organization in the city of Santa Clarita (in north Los Angeles County).  Their goal is to "address the needs of those heroes who have served our nation, and all of us, with courage and honor."  The Habitat For Heroes does this specifically in the area of housing.

According to the Habitat For Heroes, roughly 80,000 US Military Veterans who served after 9/11 are spending more than 50% of their income on housing.  This situation, along with a challenging economy, has created financial hardship for many veterans, especially in the city of Santa Clarita.  Per capita, Santa Clarita has one of highest concentrations of Military Veterans.  Of the city's 250,000 residents, over 10,000 are war veterans.

So Habitat For Heroes recently announced an exciting project, in coordination with the California Department of Veteran Affairs (CalVet).

CalVet will provide $21 million for Habitat For Heroes to develop and build 87 new homes in a village dedicated to veterans.  Local veterans will then be able to apply to purchase one of these affordable homes!

This is a terrific program.  And ought to be a model for other communities to follow!

Veterans Day is coming up... on Nov 11th.  For the independence and freedom we all enjoy, our US Military Veterans deserve to be remembered and honored!!

Check out this AWESOME video about the program...

American Heroes - London Paralympians

Henry Miller (1891-1980) was an American author who said:
"The ordinary man is involved in action, the hero acts.  An immense difference."

These are American Military Heroes who did not just witness action, they acted!  And their choice to act brought life-changing results.  We owe them a deep sense of gratitude and honor.  They have served the USA and our US Military well!

These people also competed in the 2012 London Paralympics!!  Take a look at their stories...

Dugie Denton - Army - Archery
Dugie was shot in the course of military service, which led to a plate being put in his ankle.  He also suffers from a traumatic brain injury.  He took 9th place in the Open Individual Compound Archery event.


Rob Jones - Marines - Rowing
Rob lost both legs above-the-knee after an IED blast in Afghanistan in 2010.  He and his rowing partner, Oksana Masters, took home a Bronze Medal in the Mixed Double Sculls event!!


Josh Olson - Army - Shooting
Josh lost his right leg from the hip down during a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Iraq in 2004.  He took 28th place in the 50m Prone Rifle event.


Jennifer Schuble - West Point Cadet - Cycling
Jennifer suffered a traumatic brain injury during hand-to-hand combat training at the Academy.  Then a car accident crushed her right arm.  And then in 2004 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.  She took home a Silver Medal and a Bronze Medal in the 500m Cycling and Mixed Team Sprint Cycling events, respectively!!


Gavin Sibayan - Army - Soccer
Gavin survived many roadside bombs, then suffered a stroke.  Team USA took 8th place in the Soccer event.


Brad Snyder - Navy - Swimming
Brad lost his sight following a bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2011.  He took home the following:

• Silver Medal - 50m Freestyle!!
• Gold Medal - 100m Freestyle!!
• Gold Medal - 400m Freestyle!!
• 4th Place - 100m Butterfly
• 6th Place - 100m Breaststroke
• 5th Place - 100m Backstroke
• 6th Place - 200m Ind. Medley

Scott Winkler - Army - Shot Put
Scott was paralyzed from the chest down after falling from an ammo truck in Iraq in 2003.  He took 13th place in the Shot Put event.


Finally, have a look at this 2012 London Paralympics Slide Show...

2010 & 2011 Para-Triathlete of the Year - Melissa Stockwell

Melissa Stockwell is one of the (many) people who have served our country bravely and courageously!

As a Freshman at the University of Colorado, Boulder Melissa joined the US Army ROTC and committed to 4 years of active duty with the US Army.  She started as a US Army officer in 2002, and was deployed to Iraq.

In 2004 Melissa was leading a convoy through Baghdad when a roadside bomb exploded and blew her unarmored Humvee into a guardrail and then a house.  The result was that she lost her left leg.

Melissa is now an above-the-knee amputee on her left side.  In fact, Melissa is the first woman soldier to lose a limb in the Iraq War.  And for her honorable service, Melissa received a Bronze Star plus a Purple Heart.

But that's not the end of the story!  Melissa is now a world class Para-Triathlete!!

After spending a year of recovery at the Walter Reed Medical Center, Melissa took up swimming (for the first time in her life!).  She even became a member of Team USA Swimming at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

Following this event, she chose to pursue Para-Triathlons.  This is what she has to show for it:

• 2011 USA Female Para-Triathlete of the Year
• 1st Place -- 2011 ITU Para-Triathlon World Championship Beijing (TRI-2)
• 1st Place -- 2011 ITU Para-Triathlon National Championship NYC (TRI-2)
• 2010 USA Female Para-Triathlete of the Year
• 1st Place -- 2010 ITU Para-Triathlon World Championship Budapest (TRI-2)
• 2nd Place -- 2010 ITU Para-Triathlon National Championship (TRI-1)
• 1st Place -- 2009 Olympic Distance Triathlon Chicago (her division)

Melissa is not participating in the 2012 London Paralympics, only because her sport is not an event.  But that will change soon!  Para-Triathlon will make its debut at the 2016 Rio Paralympics!!!

This is another story of an American Hero!  We owe our deepest gratitude to Melissa Stockwell, Rob Jones, Brad Snyder, Ryan McIntosh and many others!!

Melissa is one of 4 veterans featured in a documentary called Warrior Champions.  Check out this movie trailer...

Marine Vet and 2012 Paralympian - Rob Jones

We have thoroughly enjoyed this summer of featuring Police, Fire, EMS and Military soldiers who have competed in the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics!

Here's another story from the current 2012 Paralympics.

Rob Jones is a retired US Marine.  He's now a double above-the-knee amputee.  And a 2012 London Paralympian for Team USA!!

Rob's event is the Mixed Doubles Rowing, with teammate Oksana Masters.  Together they won Bronze!!

Oksana was born with deformed legs, which led to her own double amputation.

Rob lost both legs in 2010 while serving with the US Marines in Afghanistan.  His injury was due to the blast of an IED (improvised explosive device).

For many injured veterans and military service members, sports is a terrific means of therapy.  We saw this earlier with Brad Snyder (blind Paralympian) and his swimming!  Now we're seeing the inspiration of sports with Rob, and his teammate Oksana.

You can follow Rob and Oksana's journey through their BadCompany website

And be sure to watch this inspiring video from Rob and Oksana with the VOLUME UP!