By Tammy Roberts
Staff writer
Roberts@hometownnewsol.com
Staff Sgt. Paul Russell Marek has been an inspiration to many in Brevard County and beyond.
Raised in Satellite Beach, Staff Sgt. Marek, 37, served two overseas tours with the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division.
On Sept. 16, 2005, he was serving near Baghdad when his tank was destroyed by an improvised explosive device, causing him to have a brain injury, severe burns across 20 percent of his body and the loss of his right leg, right arm, right ear and left thumb.
During his rehabilitation, a devastating fire last summer at Uncle Bob's Self Storage facility in Indian Harbour Beach destroyed all of Staff Sgt. Marek's furniture and personal belongings.
Lou's Blues in Indialantic will host a benefit and poker run Sunday, Oct. 26 to raise money to replace Staff Sgt. Marek's home furnishings and possessions lost in the fire.
"Once you've heard all that has happened to this guy, how could you not get involved?" said Louie Andres, owner of Lou's Blues. "We have a lot of military vets come into our bar, so we knew we would have a lot of support. Just knowing what these soldiers go through just being over there is reason enough for us to help."
The all-day event, sponsored by Vietnam and all Veterans of Brevard, Hollywood Limousines of Satellite Beach and Coastal Cruizin' Magazine, will feature live bands, food, drawings and prizes.
"We're just encouraging as many people as possible to come out and take part in this community event," said Wendy Reifert, who is helping to organize the benefit. "Local businesses have already been very generous in donating gift certificates and raffle prizes."
Ms. Reifert, who is also president of Hollywood Limousines, arranged for Staff Sgt. Marek to be picked up and taken to Lou's Blues in a limousine.
"We think it is wonderful that the community is supporting him in so many ways," said Rose Marek, Staff Sgt. Marek's mother. "I know that sometimes he is overwhelmed by the many who have stepped forward to help."
The furniture and belongings purchased with the funds raised at the benefit will be placed in a brand new home currently being built for Staff Sgt. Marek.
The three-bedroom, 1,900-square-foot-house in a Viera subdivision is the work of a national nonprofit organization called Homes for Troops.
Since 2004, the organization has built more than 30 homes throughout the United States for U.S. military veterans. Many of the homes are designed to meet the needs of the wounded soldiers and are handicapped accessible or feature widened hallways, ramps and custom facilities.
"There are so many soldiers who have fallen in battle, but some fail to realize that there are some 30,000 wounded men and women returning home as well," said Russ Gambill, a Viera resident who volunteers with Homes for Our Troops. "These wounded soldiers get home and they can't move around in their own houses and don't have the means to support their families."
Staff Sgt. Marek's home will be the first house completed by Homes for Our Troops in the state of Florida.
The lot was purchased by Suncastle Custom Homes for a discounted rate and Holiday Builders is the project's contractor, Mr. Gambill said. Most of the materials and supplies used to build the home were donated by various contractors throughout the community.
Staff Sgt. Marek's home, which is scheduled to be completed in mid-November, will be entirely handicapped accessible and will feature 3-foot-wide doorways, a state-of-the-art security system and a custom exercise room.
"When he moves in, everything will be entirely paid off," Mr. Gambill said. "It's basically a free home. I really believe in this organization and the many lives it can change."
The Staff Sgt. Russ Marek Poker Run will be Oct. 26 at 9 a.m. beginning at Lou's Blues, 3191 N. Highway A1A, Indian Harbour Beach. Cost is $10 per hand. For information, call Wendy at (321) 288-8389 or Darby at (321) 987-7025.
For information about Homes for Our Troops, visit www.homesfortroops.com.