Every night we are bombarded with statistics reminding us of how many American men and women have die din Iraq during the past four years.  We see fleeting pictures of flag draped coffins, grieving families, or wounded service members learning to adapt to their injuries.  But then the news cuts to a commercial and we forget those numbers and those men and women who have sacrificed so much for this country.  The media wants to use the troops who have died to turn us against the war.  The media wants to show us the loss, but they don’t tell us the rest of the story.  Families must go on without their husband, brother or son.  Wounded vets must start a new life and some how carry on. 

Working quietly, without much media attention or fanfare, are countless organizations started by individual Americans who want to give back to those who have given so much for our freedom.  These organizations can be small operations that visit wounded vets or much larger groups that work tirelessly to help improve the lives of our troops.  But the impulse is the same, a sincere desire to show our service members that they are appreciated. 

One of these organizations is Homes For Our Troops, a non-profit organization founded by John Gonsalves.  John started Homes For Our Troops in 2004 after being touched by the story of a severely injured Iraq War vet returning home.  An experienced builder, he tried to find an organization that worked on building homes for wounded vets.  When he discovered that none existed, John started his own and Home For Our Troops was born.  By raising donations of money, building supplies, labor and land, the organization can provide the most basic of all needs to severely injured service members and their families, a home to cal their own. 

Homes For Our Troops works to build new homes or refit established homes for wounded vets.  Vets with disabilities can get a home that is suited to their new abilities.  All services are provided free of charge to the veterans.  To date Homes For Our Troops has completed 16 homes and has 14 more in progress.   Just last week, John received an incredible surprise in the mail when he received a check for $3 million from an anonymous donor.  That donation will allow Homes For Our Troops to begin work on homes for all 15 vets they currently have on their waiting list.