Non-profit group gives home to injured sergeant

Kit Corp.’s Bill Russell, left, and Homes For Our Troops’ John Gonzales, center, help Sgt. Eric Edmundson up the ramp of his new home as supporters from throughout the community, many of which helped build the home, watch from the front yard.
Liz Bowles/Sun Journal

 

October 6, 2007 - 10:36PM

 

Eric Edmundson has a new home and a lot of support from his community of family and friends.

Edmundson, a sergeant in the U.S. Army, was injured two years ago in Iraq.

He laughed and clapped Saturday. He sweated and he cried. Then, with more than 100 people watching from the front yard at 2215 Caracara Drive in Fairfield Harbour, he rolled into a new house with his wife, Stephanie, in his lap.

Donations from community members and businesses, and assistance from a troop housing program made the home possible.

Edmundson was injured Oct. 2, 2005. A roadside bomb hit the assault vehicle he was driving. He suffered injuries to his abdomen, right leg, vertebrae and spleen. He has not been able to walk since the explosion. He cannot talk.

“One day, Eric will be able to thank you himself,” Stephanie told community members Saturday. “This is the celebration of not only a new home, but an answered prayer. I would like to thank you for welcoming us home.”

About 2 p.m. Saturday, Eric got the key to the house. He and Stephanie took their daughter, Gracie, inside.

Eric and Stephanie received help when they met John Gonsalves.

Gonsalves founded a program called Homes for Troops. He met the Edmundsons at a steakhouse in Washington D.C. when Eric was at a recovery center.

“There was one table open in the restaurant,” Gonsalves said. “The Edmundsons took it. I came in and sat down at the table with them. It led to this wonderful work from the heart today.”

Gonsalves said Homes for Troops officials set side $250,000 to build the Edmundsons a house. He said the organization only used $5,000 of that.

“Local people and businesses gave so much money,” Gonsalves said. “The $245,000 we didn’t use will go to the family of another troop on the waiting list.”

The Edmundsons’ house is the third built by Homes for Troops in North Carolina this year, Gonsalves said. The Edmundsons’ house has a wheelchair ramp that leads to the front porch so Eric can get to the door.

Eric’s father, Ed, cried Saturday as he thanked the New Bern community, and Gonsalves, for helping make the home possible.

“This is a week of celebration,” he said. “Just a few days ago, Eric celebrated the second anniversary of his alive day. Alive days are where troops celebrate living after a life threatening accident. Now, we can put behind us the two years of searching for help.”

Representatives from the offices of Gov. Mike Easley and Sen. Richard Burr were present at the ceremony. Sen. Walter B. Jones attended and addressed the people who came to support the family.

The representatives and Gonsalves said they will continue to support the Edmundson family with money, medical help and prayers.