Groundbreaking Ceremony Starts Construction to Bring Woodbridge Veteran Home

Orangewood Drive home Thursday, local supporters turned out to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new addition needed for U.S. Marine Corporal Joshua Himan to come home.

Within an hour of the groundbreaking ceremony, construction on the family’s home began.

The Northern Virginia Fuller Center for Housing, Azalea Charities, the Quality of Life Foundation, Caulkins Construction, and Prince William County Supervisor Martin Nohe joined in on the festivities.

For the Himan family, life changed drastically in 2009 when their son, Joshua, 26, was left paralyzed from the chest down when his Humvee hit an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.

Cpl. Himan is undergoing intensive therapy at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for injuries. His mother, Pat, quit her job in order to take care of her son. The addition that is currently underway will make necessary modifications to the home in order to welcome Cpl. Himan back home.

“We announced this project on Dec. 31," said Jacob Koch, President of the NoVA Fuller Center in a press release. “It is just mind-boggling and humbling to report that thanks to all of you and a generous anonymous donor who matched contributions up to $15,000 last month, we have raised enough money and in-kind donations to complete this addition in time to bring Joshua home.”

In addition to the matched funds, Mark Robbins, Executive Director of the Yellow Ribbon Fund, presented a check for $10,000 to the NOVA Fuller Center during the event.

But, the project still needs help: both financially and through volunteer work. Koch said that the project needs a lumber package (view the PDF to the right) and lodging for the family while the project is underway. Donations are welcome and can be mailed or sent online.

To volunteer time, make a contribution, or donate material for the Fuller Center for Housing’s Military Build Program, which teams up with local military installations to support wounded soldiers and their families, please contact Robert Lang at (703) 221-7065 or send an email to volunteers@novafullercenter.org.

You can also contribute securely online at the NoVA Fuller Center website: http://www.fullercenter.org/news/northernvirginia.