Rotary clubs donate to Operation Finally Home

Despite a heavy downpour May 18, spirits ran high at Red Fox Run community in Milton for the dedication of the mortgage-free home for veteran Shaun O’Brien and his family.

As part of the Operation Finally Home dedication ceremony, Ray Bryant, Georgetown-Millsboro Rotary Club, recognized Shaun as an Honorary Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his service above self to his country. O’Brien was an Army medic serving in Afghanistan where he worked to save his fellow soldiers after an attack when he was severely wounded. Bryant expressed Rotary’s appreciation for O’Brien’s service and how delighted the area clubs were to be part of the project.

Seven southern Delaware Rotary clubs (Lewes-Rehoboth, Rehoboth Beach Sunrise, Southern Sussex Delaware, Long Neck Sunrise, Milford, Georgetown-Millsboro and Nanticoke-Seaford) had donated $5,000 to the project, funded by proceeds from their respective annual Flags for Heroes displays. About $4,300 of this donation was earmarked to be used toward the $15,400 value in furnishings supplied by Johnny Janosik. These included a cabinet and mirror for the foyer; a sofa, chair, recliner, cocktail and end tables, table lamps and area rug for the living room; a server and art for the dining room; a rocker and side table for the nursery; a chest of drawers and table lamp for son Chase’s bedroom; a sleep sofa, desk, desk chair, table lamp and art for the guest room; a king bed, two nightstands, dresser, mirror, table lamps and art for the master bedroom; and a dining table and four chairs for the outdoor porch.

Although the O’Briens knew they were receiving a completed house, they did not know it would be furnished. This was kept a surprise and was only made known when they first entered the home after the ribbon cutting. Emotions ran high when the O’Briens first saw the inside of their new home, and son Chase tugged on his mother Jesyka’s sleeve and asked, “Are you crying, Mommy?”

Rotary spent $700 to purchase another surprise – a wooden swing set, which was assembled by a group of Rotary volunteers the week prior to the dedication. Regan Deck, president, Southern Sussex; Tyler Murray and Harold Sheerer of Custom Mechanical; Michael Hall, president-elect, Long Neck Sunrise; Jack Donovan, president-elect, Milford; Dan Tabler, past president, and Ray Bryant, president-elect, Georgetown-Millsboro; and volunteer Jay Headman provided about 50 total service hours to assemble the swing set and prepare the surrounding area.

The mulch for the playground area was donated and installed by Shore Thing Property Services, owned by two members of Southern Sussex Rotary. American Cedar and Millwork donated the 4x4s framing the area. Milford Rotary is donating a Weber grill. Despite pouring rain, Chase was quick to explore his new playground.

“The Rotary clubs in Southern Delaware were happy to be engaged with such a special project,” said Bryant. “In recognizing the men and women of our armed forces for their service, Operation Finally Home’s mission closely ties to that of Rotary. We have already contacted other Rotary districts to let them know about Operation Finally Home so they can get involved as we have here.”

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.

Operation Finally Home provides mortgage-free homes to service members and their families who have become wounded, ill, or injured as a result of their service in the defense of this country. While  support has primarily been given to wounded, ill or injured service members returning from current campaigns, OFH supports all service members. Operational Finally Home has delivered more than 130 homes since 2005, with 100 of them in the last four years. This is the first project in Delaware.

For more information, go to www.Rotary and www.operationfinallyhome.org.