Bronx Purple Heart Soldier Honored With A Donated Home
New York City will honor the courage and patriotism of US Army Specialist Roberto Reyes, who served two Iraq tours, was awarded with a Purple Heart, earned two combat Action Badges and endured 16 combat injuries on Saturday July 25, 2009 at 12pm in the Bronx, New York with a First Nail Ceremony for the non-profit A Home for Robert.
The ceremony marks the construction of a home being re-built and for Specialist Reyes, age 26. The ceremony will be held at Reyes future home at 2842 Sampson Avenue, Bronx, New York 10465 , and will include a Heroes Motorcade from the Bronx VA Hospital through the Bronx by The New York Police Department and The Nam Knights and the presence of various Bronx Youth Cadet Corps.
Reyes, a Bronx native, was severely wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq on his second tour. He has been an in-patient at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx for over four years.
Like many injured New York City veterans, the expensive real estate prices of New York put Reyes at a disadvantage in receiving sufficient grants to cover the needs of specially adapted housing.
To make A Home for Robert possible, a volunteer veterans advocate and former US Army infantry captain, Larry Rivera, has raised money through VA grants, private donations and New York based general contractor Bullfrog Builders, which is donating labor and pledging to discount the projects final costs.
Reyes new home will be located near the very Bronx neighborhood that he lived in prior to enlisting. New York based Bullfrog Builders is custom re-building this home to meet all of the needs of his life as an injured war veteran. The ranch-style home will nearly quadruple in square footage, and will be completely wheelchair accessible with hydraulic ramps, lower countertops, and wider doorways.
A Home For Robert is a small way to thank Specialist Reyes for the valor and patriotism of his service.
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Thank you Robert and welcome home.
P.S. I love you Robert!
From your uncle,
Julio (El Trigueno) Alicea
I truly apologize for not having seen these comments. It warms my heart to know that people are so welcoming of my nephew. But I must say that as of January 26th, 2010, 5 years after Robert was severly injured in Iraq, the VA regional office and the judge from Bronx Supreme Court did not approve of seed monies requested to obtain the house. All were ready, willing and able to adapt for Robert. In my opinion they have violated his civil rights to live in his own home. I have movedd forward and requested a congressional hearing and an investigation as to why the VA is against Robert coming home. I believe in the All-Mighty Lord that he will come home, be it in the Bronx or elsewhere, Robert will come home. Thanks to all for all of your support.
Titi Maria
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