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WELCOME HOME, CORPORAL ‘Homes for Our Troops’ finishes building a house for a disabled veteran. Last month, the group handed the keys to soldier Nick Orchowski, his fie Jamie and their two children, Colton and Mikayla. PARKER - Corporal Nick Orchowski returned from Iraq eight years ago, but only last month considered himself really home. He and his wife opened the door to a house worth about $400,000 in the Elkhorn Ranch subdivision that was specifically built for his disabilities. The retired Army solder was riding in an armored Humvee in Baghdad in May 2004 when explosives tore through the tanker, blasted him out and broke his neck. With surgeries, will power and time, he can walk again. And with a new home, the soldier 11 has a place for his family that they otherwise would not
‘have been able to afford. Homes for Our Troops’ motto is ‘Building homes, rebuilding lives.” Indeed. The group raised $200,000 in donations from builders, suppliers, local businesses, schools and volunteers. People like Deputy Jay Martin of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office helped rally the efforts. The corporal thanks everyone who hammered a nail, carried wood, planted flowers and shopped for spoons. Nick told the group; “Thank you for your support and kindness, not only have you honored me as a veteran of combat, but you have also changed my family’s lives as well. I will no longer have to adapt to the unadapted. I have had to rely on other people to help me with most things in my new home. I will be able to be independent. Homes for Our Troops and their volunteers and donors depict the true American Spirit! Thank you!”