The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has provided flooring for its 87th home in support of the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment), which builds mortgage-free, custom, specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders. The home dedication for U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jason Pacheco was held recently in Fallbrook, Calif. Flooring for the project was donated by NWFA member DuChateau.
Staff Sgt. Pacheco joined the Marines after graduation with his eyes set on the infantry, competing to earn a spot at Advanced Urban Sniper School. He graduated at the top of his class and was deployed to Afghanistan in May 2010 as a corporal and scout sniper team leader. Just three months after arriving, he was pinned down in a four-hour firefight with Taliban soldiers. After the battle, he headed out to conduct a battle damage assessment and was blindsided by an IED. The blast resulted in a traumatic brain injury, leg amputation below the knee, femur fracture, pinky amputation and blown eardrums.
“After three months of physical therapy, Sgt. Pacheco learned to walk,” stated Stephanie Owen, NWFA president and CEO. “After six months, he learned to run. And just a few months after that, he became one of the first three Marine Corps amputees to return to a combat zone on full duty. His dedication to his team and his country is remarkable, and we’re honored to partner with DuChateau to provide beautiful real wood floors for his new home.”
In addition to the 88 homes already completed, NWFA is working with its members to source wood flooring for 11 additional R.I.S.E. homes in various stages of planning and construction. Currently, 163 NWFA member companies have donated product, logistics, and installation services in locations throughout the U.S., with a total value of more than $7 million. A list of all NWFA R.I.S.E. participating companies can be found at http://www.nwfa.org/giving-back.aspx.
