When R & M Service Experts General Manager Stephen Arvan was invited to provide a free HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) system installation for a serviceman who lost both his legs while sweeping for IEDs in Afghanistan, there was only one response: Absolutely.
Cody Evans was only 27 years old when he was on patrol in Afghanistan and injured by an IED explosion. The explosion caused burns on his arms and hands, broken bones in his hand, a pulmonary embolism, and a fractured coccyx. The explosion also took both his legs. After nearly a year of inpatient and outpatient treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Cody returned home to Tennessee and retired from the Marine Corps In January 2013.
Even though Cody has been in Tennessee for more than three years now, in May Cody got a totally different kind of homecoming. With the help of over 400 sub-contractors and 80 visiting volunteers, including FDNY firefighters who were at the World Trade Center on 9/11, the organization A Soldier’s Journey Home was able to build Cody a disabled-accessible home.
According to their website, A Soldier’s Journey Home is the result and passion of a circle of people who will always remember September 11, 2001, but most importantly, will always remember what we as a nation felt like on September 12, 2001.
That terrible day that will forever be remembered spurred a new age that resulted in many of our nation’s men and women being deployed. A Soldier’s Journey Home wants to show their support and ensure these men and women and their families know that their sacrifice does not go unnoticed.
“These men and women have left 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 a wonderful organization and has been working with A Soldier’s Journey Home for the past several months. He has now become the project coordinator for the group.
“This was our first home build as our own non-profit group,” said Stephen. Many of the volunteers and the board members had been working with other organizations that help to rebuild after tragic events, including helping after Hurricane Katrina. A Soldier’s Journey home was set-up in 2015 to focus on our men and women returning home.
Freschi Service Experts is proud 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.