It’s all about the countertops. This week, U.S. Army SSG Michael Brown and his family picked out finishes for the new home being built for them in The Crossing at River’s Landing in Madison.
Brown was one of two local disabled veterans chosen by the Helping a Hero program and Breland Homes to receive a new, fully customized OSHA-compliant adaptive home. Brown and family, along with Sgt. 1st Class Scott Barkalow and his family, were introduced as the recipients of two adaptive homes to be built by Breland Homes at the Lee Greenwood 40th Anniversary All-Star Music Tribute at Huntsville’s Von Braun Center last fall.
The Helping A Hero program, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Texas, has awarded over 100 homes in 24 states to wounded warriors injured in the Global War on Terror.
In 2007, during his deployment to Mosul, Iraq, SSG Michael Brown’s armored tank was struck by an anti-tank grenade. The impact severed his left foot at the ankle leading to years of physical therapy and a prosthetic device.
Speaking at the groundbreaking for the new home in February, the Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient said the struggle itself isn’t the important part — it is how you deal with that struggle.
“Yes, I’m an amputee,” Brown stated. “But more importantly, I’m a husband to a wonderful wife, I’m a father to an amazing girl, and I am a soldier for life.”
Now two months later, Brown, wife Kim and daughter Alyssa are gathered in the development’s model home to pick out finishes for their new home currently under construction.
“We’re very excited,” says Kim as she compares two tiles, alternating between the warm grey and the taupe samples. “This allows us a security and stability we haven’t had before.”
Brown adds, “This is it, this is our home now.”
And for the countertops? After careful consideration, the Browns settle on the warm gray.
The 2,900 sq ft home is expected to be completed this summer.
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