Friday, December 11, 2009

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Volunteers build house for disabled soldier

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• Home for Our Troops website

MIDDLEBORO, Mass. -- A severely injured veteran is getting a very special homecoming in Middleboro.

Volunteers from Home for Our Troops on Friday began constructing a customized house for Army SSG Michael Downing, who lost both his legs in Afghanistan in Sept. 2008 during his second deployment.

"We were out on a combat patrol, and we were hit with an IED," said Downing.

Downing had been out of the service for 13 years but chose to reenlist after the 9/11 attacks.

While recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Home for Our Troops heard of Downing's story and offered to help.

"When something happens locally right where we're based, we really need to reach out at that point," said John Gonsalves, a representative for Home for Our Troops.

More than 100 professional builders donated their skills, time and materials to create a barrier-free house for Downing. Dominic Falconeiri, the project's general contractor, even came out of retirement to participate.

"This is the best thing I can ever think of ever going up, a wonderful experience," said Falconeiri

Volunteers will continue working for the next three days.

"I had never really heard of the organization, but they sought me out," said Downing. "You don't see a lot of this and hear about a lot of it, so when you actually see it, it's very impressive. It's something to see."

"Every room in every house, Home for Our Troops has left no stone unturned on him being able to maneuver in this house," added his wife, Dawnalee Keilty-Downing.

The veteran's goal remains to be able to walk again. Downing said the new house, which he hopes to be living in with his family by this spring, is his first step to healing.

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