The Gary Sinise Foundation is holding a “Walls of Honor” event Wednesday in Bayfield to mark the halfway point in the process of donating a smart home to veteran Matthew Slaydon.
The Gary Sinise Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment program, with other donors, has built and donated smart homes around the country to veterans seriously injured during service. The homes are adapted to fit the specific needs of their recipients, families and caregivers. Retired U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Slaydon will move into the smart home when it is fully constructed.
“We are constructing these one-of-a-kind homes across the country, each for a wounded hero, their caregivers and families. With a place to truly call home, they will now be able to move forward with their lives,” the foundation’s news release said.
A roadside bomb filled with 15 pounds of homemade explosives, nails and wood screws exploded 2 feet in front of Slaydon, an explosive ordnance disposal technician, while he was deployed in Baghdad. Slaydon lost his left arm and left eye, and lives with bilateral blindness.
Through his recovery, Slaydon stayed motivated because of his sense of duty, his family and his military brothers and sisters, the release said.
During the “Walls of Honor” event, veterans, community leaders, family and friends can write personal messages on the walls of the new, specially-adapted smart home under construction for Slaydon and his family.
Interested community members can attend the event at 756 Bald Eagle Road in Bayfield starting at 9 a.m.
smullane@durangoherald.com
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