Armstrong Floor Products is proud to announce its partnership with Homes for Our Troops (HFOT), a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization that builds specially adapted homes for the nation’s severely injured veterans.  

Armstrong, as the exclusive flooring supplier to HFOT, will donate floors for approximately 30 homes to be built across the country in 2013. The housesare built at no cost to the veteran through the support of individuals, foundations and corporate contributors.

A portion of the sales from the company’s new American Scrape collection will be dedicated to supporting this effort.  American Scrape features richly textured hardwood floors, inspired by the rugged beauty of the American landscape. This special collection is offered in domestic hickory, known for its rustic character and superior hardness, and oak, an American classic. Everything about these floors has an American stamp – wide width planks (5”), dramatic colors named for diverse regions around the country and each floor is made in the USA.

“We are proud  that we can play a small role in helping these injured veterans live more comfortably in their new homes, although ‘proud’ does not begin to describe how we feel about the opportunity to help return freedom and independence to a few of our nation’s most severely wounded service members,” said Armstrong Senior Vice President Kevin Biedermann.

“We hope that our participation will bring attention to this worthy organization, as the opportunity and need is great,” said Biedermann.  “In addition to our commitment as a company, we are encouraging our distributor partners and retail customers to get involved, too.  The more volunteers and donations that Homes For Our Troops receives, the more veterans they can help.”

”It is only with continued support from sponsors like Armstrong that together, we can help more severely injured veterans eliminate the daily obstacles and barriers that their physical limitations impose upon them and their families. Every donation of time, labor, materials and money, helps us to fulfill our commitment to our service members who have been severely injured in combat operations,” said SMA Kenneth Preston, President & Director, Homes For Our Troops.

American Quality, Built to Last

Products donated through the sponsorship include engineered hardwood and resilient floors which meet universally designed criteria, including Armstrong’s beautiful and durable Alterna engineered stone tile. The homes include many products that help the veterans participate in and enjoy daily life with their families. The home s are designed to provide maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently after returning injured from service.

“Building Homes, Rebuilding Lives”

Marine Sergeant Marshall Kennedy was on his fourth deployment when he lost both of his legs and suffered severe damage to his left arm after stepping on an IED in Sangin, Afghanistan on June 13, 2011. The Squad Leader on a routine clearance mission, Sgt Kennedy and his team were informed by Afghan locals that a weapons cache was in a compound nearby. After calling for the Explosive Ordinance Disposal team (EOD), Sgt Kennedy and his squad began checking another compound in the area. While keeping an eye on his Marines ahead and those behind him as well, Sgt Kennedy “took a knee” (positioned himself to assess the situation) and while doing so, his left foot hit the pressure plate of an IED. Thrown through the air and into a nearby wall, Sgt Kennedy remained conscious throughout the ordeal. His legs traumatically amputated, his Marines and the Corpsman worked to save his life. Transported by his team’s Mobile Section, Sgt Kennedy was taken to a shock-trauma platoon. Later flown to Camp Bastion, followed by Bagram Air Force Base, he was next airlifted to Landstuhl, Germany before arriving at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland 4 days post-injury. Sgt Kennedy has endured more than thirty-five surgeries to date. He remains at WRNMMC at this time, his wife and sons by his side. Sgt Kennedy enjoys hunting, shooting, and NASCAR. He especially loves spending time with his wife Chelsie and their two young sons. Marshall and Chelsie would both like to complete their degrees at the University of Arkansas.

When asked what receiving a specially adapted home from Homes for Our Troops would mean to him, Sgt Kennedy shared the following, “Thank you for the support and all you are doing to make this possible. Living in a specially adapted home provided by Homes for Our Troops will make our transition to civilian life and our daily living so much easier. This is truly a blessing for our family. Thank you for this opportunity.”

“Having a house that’s fully accessible for Marshall to move around more freely, brings a new normal to our lives, and to give our kids a ‘normal’ home and time with their dad,” said wife Chelsie.

Please consider donating supplies or labor or making a monetary donation.