Someday, Spc. Andrew Birzer will return home to stay.
And when he does, the Fort Dodge man suffering a traumatic brain injury from his Iowa Army National Guard duty in Afghanistan will step into a virtually new house.
A small army of contractors will descend on the Birzer home next week to remodel it at no cost to the family.
''I'm ecstatic,'' said the soldier's wife, Samantha Birzer. ''I'm thankful that there are people out there that are willing to thank the soldiers and families for what they've gone through.''
The job is being coordinated by Operation First Response, a group that provides a variety of support to military families, and the Associated Builders and Contractors of Iowa.
On Sunday, members of the Freedom Riders, a motorcycle group, will move all the belongings of Andrew and Samantha Birzer and their three children out of the house at 1416 N. 31st St.
The contractors will move in on Monday. Most of the work is expected to be done by Aug. 24.
Reid Den Herder, the membership director of the contractors' group, said the crews will:
Replace the electrical system
Put down new floors
Install new windows and doors
Install a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system
Remodel a bathroom
Place new insulation in the garage
Renovate the kitchen
Landscape the yard
Den Herder estimated the value of the work at between $60,000 and $70,000. All labor and materials will be donated by participating contractors, he said.
Samantha Birzer and her children, 16-year-old Stephanie, 13-year-old Theresa and 11-year-old Colin, will stay in hotels while the remodeling is done. On Sunday and Monday, they'll be at the Stony Creek Inn in Johnston. Then they'll return to Fort Dodge and stay at AmericInn Lodge & Suites, 114 Kenyon Road West. That hotel will house the family for free.
Operation First Response connected the contractors with the Birzer family.
''Associated Builders and Contractors wanted to do a house for a soldier,'' said PJ Sesker-Green, a spokeswoman for Operation First Response. ''Andrew instantly came to mind.''
Sesker-Green stunned Samantha Birzer when she called and asked if the family needed any work done on the house.
Since then, two groups of contractors have examined the house.
Samantha Birzer and the children soon found themselves packing boxes.
Monday, the day contractors are scheduled to start working, will be the Birzers' 17th anniversary.
''This is definitely a wonderful anniversary present,'' Samantha Birzer said.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
