The Gary Sinise Foundation is continuing its good work for America’s first responders and service members after announcing it would build two smart homes for a pair of St. Louis-area police officers who were injured in the line of duty.
Officer Mathew Crosby served with the Rock Hill Police Department for four years.
After applying to the Maplewood Police Department, which serves a larger community with a higher crime rate, the father of two lined up an interview.
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The day he was supposed to go for his interview, he and his partner received a call to a domestic disturbance. Officer Crosby was shot by the suspect, leaving him paralyzed.
Officer Ryan O’Connor served with the St. Louis County Police for 12 years, then spend the next five with the Ferguson Police Department.
In December 2017, Officer O’Connor was transporting a burglary suspect who had hidden a firearm on himself.
The suspect pulled the gun and shot Officer O’Connor in the head. Emergency surgery saved his life, but it was two months before he could even speak again.
Both Officer Crosby and O’Connor’s injuries changed their lives — and the Gary Sinise Foundation is helping them out.
At a press conference, the foundation announced it would build each of them a specially adapted smart home, which would come fully furnished and be mortgage-free, and suited to each of their mobility needs.
Sinise called each of the men personally to break the news, Fox 2 reported.
Even as the foundation honored the officers for their sacrifice, they both expressed their gratitude.
“I am incredibly grateful to Gary Sinise and everybody at the Gary Sinise Foundation,” said Officer Crosby. “We couldn’t be more proud to join your family and for you to join ours as well.”
“I am one grateful American,” added Officer O’Connor.
This isn’t the first time Sinise and his foundation have changed the lives of other people.
In August 2019, they provided a new roof to a veteran whose ceiling caved in on him.
The honoree, Chuck Fox actually served in the 9th Infantry Division during Vietnam, which is the same division Sinise’s character served in Forrest Gump .
Sinise also plans events for the families of fallen soldiers.
For Christmas 2018, he flew with 1,750 people, most of them children, to treat them to a trip to Walt Disney World.
Smart homes are also a big part of the foundation’s mission.
One of their programs is called RISE , Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment.
The program provides home modification, accessibility devices, and mobility vehicles for soldiers in need.
And for some veterans, it is RISE that builds entirely new smart homes for their families.
Prior to these newest honorees, the most recent recipient was Caleb Brewer, who stepped on an IED on his 31st birthday while serving in Afghanistan.
Brewer lost both of his legs and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
The new home built by the Gary Sinise Foundation includes enough space to maneuver a wheelchair, cupboards that pull down to be reached from below, and lower cooking appliances.
It’s also equipped with an array of smart features that can be controlled easily by a tablet.
If Brewer’s beautiful home is any example, Crosby and O’Connor have a lot to look forward to.
“Our family is incredibly honored to become a part of the Gary Sinise Foundation family and we look forward to many happy years in our new home,” said O’Connor’s wife Barbara.
h/t: Fox 2 , The Gary Sinise Foundation
