Natural Stone Institute Completes 38th Home with Gary Sinise Foundation

The Natural Stone Institute has provided natural stone and fabrication services for its 38th home with the Gary Sinise Foundation through its R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) program. The R.I.S.E. program builds 100 percent mortgage-free specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders.

The fabrication and natural stone for U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Doc Jacobs and his family were provided by Pacific Shore Stones and Marjan Stone. Jacobs enlisted in the summer of 2004 and after training was assigned to a unit in Ramadi Iraq. On February 25, 2006 Jacobs was severely injured in an IED explosion. His Humvee was struck by a triple stack IED, which took two lives, left two soldiers as amputees, and resulted in other serious injuries.

Jacobs was medevacked through Balad Surgical and soon transferred to National Naval Medical Center Bethesda via Landstuhl. After three months in Bethesda receiving critical surgeries, he began outpatient recovery and transferred to Naval Medical Center San Diego. Jacobs was determined to continue his service. He fought to achieve his goal, becoming the Navy’s first amputee Corpsman and of all Navy Personnel to return to a deployable infantry unit. However, after several jaw surgeries left metal in Jacobs’ face and mouth, he was deemed undeployable by the Navy. Soon after, he chose to retire from the Navy to pursue dreams and goals in other areas of life.

Companies interested in getting involved with future projects are encouraged to email [email protected]. To learn more, and to see a list of all Natural Stone Institute members who have donated their time, products, and services to this cause, visit www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/RISE.

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