Just over a year after ground was broken in rural Carbondale, the Gary Sinise Foundation, on Thursday, June 29th, 2017, turned over the keys of a high-tech, specially adapted smart home to Sargeant First Class Jared Bullock. The Metropolis native was serving as a member of the Army’s Green Berets in Afghanistan, in November of 2013, when he lost his right leg and most of his right arm after an IED exploded under his ATV. Today Sgt. Bullock, his wife Jesica and young son Aiden spent their first day in their new home which features iPad controlled heating and air, extra wide doorways, kitchen shelves which lower automatically and other disability-friendly features. Bullock said he is glad to be back home in southern Illinois and the extra features in this house make daily living that much easier. The home was built through the Gary Sinise Foundations’s R-I-S-E program, which stands for Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment. Chris Kuban, with the Gary Sinise Foundation said before the year is done, 59 specially adapted smart homes will be built for severely injured veterans.
Metropolis Green Beret Severely Injured In Afghanistan Gets Keys To Smart Home.
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Surrounded By Officials With The Gary Sinise Foundation, Retired Green Beret Jared Bullock, Center Looking Up, Prepares To Receive The Keys To The Smart Home, June 29th, 2017.
WSIU/Kevin Boucher
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Surrounded By His Family, SFC Jared Bullock, Center With Hat, Prepares To Raise The American Flag At His Smart Home On June 29th, 2017.
WSIU/Kevin Boucher
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Members Of The Patriot Guard Watch The Ceremony On June 29th, 2017, As The Gary Sinise Foundations Formally Gives The Smart Home To Green Beret Jared Bullock.
WSIU/Kevin Boucher
