When R & M Service Experts General Manager Stephen Arvan was approached to provide a complimentary HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) equipment installation for a soldier who lost both his legs while deployed to Afghanistan, there was only one thing to say: Absolutely.
Cody Evans was only 27 when he was injured by an IED explosion while on patrol in Afghanistan. The explosion caused burns from his hands to his arms, broken bones in his hand, a pulmonary embolism, and a broken tailbone. It also took both his legs. After 11 months of inpatient and outpatient treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Cody came home to Tennessee and retired from the Marine Corps at the start of 2013.
Although he’s been back in Tennessee for over three years, this month Cody is having a whole new homecoming. With the help of over 400 sub-contractors and 80 visiting volunteers, including New York Fire Department firefighters who were first responders at Ground Zero on 9/11, the organization A Soldier’s Journey Home was able to build Cody a disabled-accessible home.
According to the non-profit’s site, A Soldier’s Journey Home is the product and passion of a circle of people who will forever remember September 11, 2001, but most importantly, have not forgotten what we as a nation felt like on September 12, 2001.
That horrible day that will always be remembered propelled a new age that resulted in many of our nation’s men and women being sent overseas. A Soldier’s Journey Home wants to offer support and make sure these men and women and their families know that their sacrifice does not go unnoticed.
“These soldiers have deployed to fight overseas for us and our freedom, so this is the least we can do to show how thankful we are for their service,” said Stephen. Stephen was humbled to be a part of such an amazing organization and has been working with A Soldier’s Journey Home for several months. He is excited to now be the project coordinator for the group.
“This was our first home build as our own non-profit group,” said Stephen. A vast amount of the volunteers and the board members had been working with other organizations that help to rebuild after tragedy, including helping after Hurricane Katrina. A Soldier’s Journey home was created in 2015 to focus on soldiers returning home.
Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is honored to welcome home Lance Corporal Cody Evans and we thank all of our men and women who serve and their families who sacrifice so much for all of us here at home. We salute you.