By Amy Schechter
On March 26, 2010, Cpl. Todd Nicely was leading a security patrol back to base in Afghanistan when he unknowingly stepped on a pressure plate setting off an explosive. The injuries he sustained caused him to lose all four of his limbs. Although his outlook on life is remarkably positive, he reminds others, “When you’re a young man in the military coming out, 23, 24 years old, you don’t want someone having to take care of you.” For that reason, Cpl. Nicely turned to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation who through the Building for America’s Bravest (BFAB) program built him a custom smart-home in June 2012 to accommodate his specific disabilities.
When Joan Miller and Kimberly Scott of Ruskin’s Dove Interiors Carpet One heard Cpl. Nicely speak about the benefits of these hi-tech “smart homes” for service members catastrophically injured, they jumped at the chance to make a difference in the lives of American veterans. Carpet One Floor & Home, and its manufacturing partner, Mohawk, have committed to providing flooring materials and installation for 46 of these “smart homes.” Miller detailed the importance of making custom houses to accommodate the specific handicaps these soldiers face. No two veterans experience the same situation, so these smart homes are designed with individuals in mind.
Earlier this month Miller and Scott, along with the staff at Dove Interiors Carpet One, were honored for their substantial contribution to the program. Jack Carter representing the Fire Department of New York City, an ambassador of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and Engine 17 from the Hillsborough County Fire Department presented the retailer with a unique shadowbox containing a portion of steel from Ground Zero.
“We are truly humbled and honored that the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and members of the FDNY—who were actually at Ground Zero on 9/11 and during its aftermath—travelled all the way from their home base to visit us and express their gratitude to us,” said Miller.
Miller and Scott invite the public to stop by the flooring retailer to make a contribution and view its selection of carpet, wood, laminate, ceramic, vinyl and area rugs in their showroom. Visit DoveInteriorsCarpetOne.com, stop by the store at 2305 E. College Ave. in Ruskin. For more information on how to make a difference in the lives of veterans, visit www.carpetone.com/our-bravest or www.Tunnel2Towers.org.
You must be logged in to post a comment.