Last month, Rebuilding Together Minnesota partnered with Lockheed Martin to provide critical accessibility improvements for a Cannon Falls veteran, Terry, and his wife, Gwen.
At just a mere 17 years old in 1973, Terry joined the military, celebrating his 18th birthday in basic training. He had learned from his father the importance of respect and a good work ethic, and so he set out to do his part for his country.
He served 13 years with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, earning the position of Staff Sergeant and Radio Teletype Team Chief. Terry trained folks in the proper use of military radios, and also spent many years as a radio operator in the M.A.R.S. (Military Affiliate Radio System) program. He later retired after a career as a local maintenance electrician, and he and Gwen recently celebrated their 30th anniversary together.
Recently, Terry’s health has started to decline. After learning he would need to have surgery to amputate one of his lower legs, the couple began their search for access ramps so that Terry could be discharged and return home safely.
They found themselves in a tough situation, as so many of our clients have. Since he and his wife rely largely on Social Security to pay the bills, they struggled to find affordable access ramps.
In an effort to get Terry’s care and return home handled in a timely manner, they decided on a rental ramp that required a quarter of his monthly income to maintain. They knew their situation was unsustainable, and then they heard about Rebuilding Together Minnesota.
Thanks to financial support from Lockheed Martin and at least 10 RTMN volunteers, our team was able to install a brand new – and most importantly, free – access ramp for Terry and Gwen.
“A tremendous weight has been lifted,” said Terry. “I am so humbled and thankful for the Rebuilding Together Minnesota project, and because of them, I now look forward to staying safely and independently in our home for many more years.”
Every day, we see the very real impact our services have for our clients. Not only does this ramp support Terry and Gwen’s ability to remain independent and connected to their community, but it’s also one less thing they need to worry about paying for. We’re proud to support our older neighbors and veterans, and we thank Terry for his service!
