Saying thanks to Spc. Birzer
Soldier’s family gets free home makeoverBy BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
Article Photos
Fact Box
Companies making donations
These companies are donating labor, material or money to renovate the home of the Birzer family:
ACI Mechanical, Ames
Ahrold Fay Rosenberg, Des Moines
City Supply Co., Des Moines
Country Landscapes, Ames
Dahl Heating and Air, Van Meter
Denison Drywall, Denison
Diamond Vogel Paint Center, Fort Dodge
Drake Staffing, Des Moines
Electrical Engineering and Equipment, West Des Moines
Electrical Materials Co., Fort Dodge
Ferguson Enterprises, Fort Dodge
Fletcher Wood Products, Fort Dodge
Franke, Herr and Associates, West Des Moines
HOW-GAN Electric, Marshalltown
HTH Cos., Union, Mo.
Interstates Companies, Sioux Center
Jim's Carpet One, Fort Dodge
Kruck Plumbing and Heating, Boone
More Than Floors Inc., Humboldt
NAI Inc., Ames
Plumb Supply Co., Fort Dodge
Price Industrial Electric, Hiawatha
Proctor Mechanical, Des Moines
Professional Plumbing Services, Cedar Rapids
QCI Thermal, Burlington
Quality Electric, Altoona
R & G Electric, Humboldt
Resource Services, Des Moines
Rhiner's Plumbing, Waukee
Speck Plumbing, Ames
The Dana Co., Des Moines
Van Meter Industrial, Des Moines
Webster Electric, Waukee
Woodruff Construction, Fort Dodge
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
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hybernation
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08-16-08 5:16 PM
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i cant believe having suffered a T.B.I that he wasn't sent home already that's sad!
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fordman
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08-15-08 10:38 PM
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I got to know Andy back in high school. Great guy to be around hopes everything works out for him and his family.
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bystander
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08-15-08 7:21 PM
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Actually their house wasnt that bad when they moved in about 3 years ago. They live in Knollcrest so you have an idea of what their house is like. I would do anything for Andy as he is my friend. Thing is Andy hasnt even been home much to enjoy the house the way it was, his wife bought it while he was gone with the help of his parents. Praying you come home soon.
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hybernation
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08-15-08 3:30 PM
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I'm also guessing alot of soldiers return home to no health care coverage, & they probably really need it for mental,& health conditions suffered it'd be nice if some local doctors could provide some free services too!?
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hybernation
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08-15-08 3:27 PM
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I guess soldiers returning home from war have to rely on help from friends,strangers, & family because our government sure doesn't reward them this well!!
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hybernation
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08-15-08 3:25 PM
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was there any reason besides kindness that this family is being givin a new house? like is the 1 they're living in now really run down, & in need of lots of repairs? this coming from somebody who also had a T.B.I. i think that's really nice of people to help others in need, especially 1 who risked their life for our country!! these people deserve all the help they get, & can get in the future!
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JANICE
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08-15-08 8:40 AM
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What a wonderful thing to do for a family who has given there all for all of us. May God bless the family and all who are contributing to the recovery of such a brave person.
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