New Roof Funds for Milwaukee Veteran Alan Lewis
Donation protected
Thank you to everyone who donated towards a new roof for Veteran Alan Lewis! The campaign has now ended, and we are happy to share we reached our goal of $12,000 thanks to individual donations and contributions from the Semper Fi & America’s Fund. Visit our Facebook page @SemperFiRoofing for updates on Alan's roofing project!
We're Semper Fi Roofing & Exteriors, a Milwaukee veteran-owned and operated contractor, and we want to thank our fellow veteran Alan Lewis for his extraordinary service to our country.
A combat army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mr. Lewis is a double amputee who lost both of his legs in a land mine explosion while on duty in Kuwait. Since his return home, he has participated in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, begun a Milwaukee wheelchair lacrosse team in collaboration with Marquette University, and played five seasons with the Wounded Warriors Amputee National Football Team.
We heard Mr. Lewis's story through a contest we threw to give away a free roof or siding job to a Milwaukee veteran. While veteran in need Don Johnson won the home makeover, we were deeply moved by Alan Lewis's story of service to our country and to the city of Milwaukee.
Please donate here to thank this American hero for his courage! 100% of funds raised will be for Mr. Lewis's use.
In his own words, here is Alan Lewis's story:
"I was raised on the Northside of Milwaukee and a graduated alum of John Marshall High School (Class of 1999.)
I enlisted in the United States Army with the 3rd Infantry Division out of Ft. Stewart, Georgia. Three months later our nation faced one of the worst attacks since Pearl Harbor, 9/11.
My unit was deployed to Kuwait in late January 2003, attached to task force 3-69 as part of the Thunder Run. On the 16th of July, we were conducting a patrol mission on a main highway in Baghdad. Once our patrol ended, my lieutenant and I stopped and picked up some ice and returned to our assembly area.
In less than ten minutes our Humvee hit an anti-tank landmine. This particular humvee had no doors, so I was immediately ejected from the vehicle, my lieutenant also. My lieutenant suffered major injuries, but I took the brunt of the explosion.
Some of my injuries include my left forearm being severally damaged, a piece of shrapnel went into my left eye, a horrible head injury and I suffered major burns across my entire body, the worst injury being the amputation of both of my legs.
While recovering at Walter Reed AMC, I met a gentleman named John Mayer (double amputee) who served in the Vietnam War...we quickly became friends. He introduced me to adaptive sports.
Just six months later I was skiing the mountains of Colorado, joined a local wheelchair basketball team, and was beginning to put the pieces of my life back together.
Today adaptive sports still plays a huge part in my life. Locally we started a wheelchair lacrosse team here in the city in collaboration with Marquette University. This is my fifth season of being invited to play football with the Wounded Warriors Amputee national football team.
My greatest achievement is being a strong foundation for my family and raising two beautiful children. Faith, family, and country helped me heal not only physically, but emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. The support that I received from the veteran community was exceptional.
These men and women showed me what it means to be a veteran. To be a person who not only served but is committed to continuing that tradition of service for the next generation of men and women coming home from the next battlefield."
We're Semper Fi Roofing & Exteriors, a Milwaukee veteran-owned and operated contractor, and we want to thank our fellow veteran Alan Lewis for his extraordinary service to our country.
A combat army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mr. Lewis is a double amputee who lost both of his legs in a land mine explosion while on duty in Kuwait. Since his return home, he has participated in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, begun a Milwaukee wheelchair lacrosse team in collaboration with Marquette University, and played five seasons with the Wounded Warriors Amputee National Football Team.
We heard Mr. Lewis's story through a contest we threw to give away a free roof or siding job to a Milwaukee veteran. While veteran in need Don Johnson won the home makeover, we were deeply moved by Alan Lewis's story of service to our country and to the city of Milwaukee.
Please donate here to thank this American hero for his courage! 100% of funds raised will be for Mr. Lewis's use.
In his own words, here is Alan Lewis's story:
"I was raised on the Northside of Milwaukee and a graduated alum of John Marshall High School (Class of 1999.)
I enlisted in the United States Army with the 3rd Infantry Division out of Ft. Stewart, Georgia. Three months later our nation faced one of the worst attacks since Pearl Harbor, 9/11.
My unit was deployed to Kuwait in late January 2003, attached to task force 3-69 as part of the Thunder Run. On the 16th of July, we were conducting a patrol mission on a main highway in Baghdad. Once our patrol ended, my lieutenant and I stopped and picked up some ice and returned to our assembly area.
In less than ten minutes our Humvee hit an anti-tank landmine. This particular humvee had no doors, so I was immediately ejected from the vehicle, my lieutenant also. My lieutenant suffered major injuries, but I took the brunt of the explosion.
Some of my injuries include my left forearm being severally damaged, a piece of shrapnel went into my left eye, a horrible head injury and I suffered major burns across my entire body, the worst injury being the amputation of both of my legs.
While recovering at Walter Reed AMC, I met a gentleman named John Mayer (double amputee) who served in the Vietnam War...we quickly became friends. He introduced me to adaptive sports.
Just six months later I was skiing the mountains of Colorado, joined a local wheelchair basketball team, and was beginning to put the pieces of my life back together.
Today adaptive sports still plays a huge part in my life. Locally we started a wheelchair lacrosse team here in the city in collaboration with Marquette University. This is my fifth season of being invited to play football with the Wounded Warriors Amputee national football team.
My greatest achievement is being a strong foundation for my family and raising two beautiful children. Faith, family, and country helped me heal not only physically, but emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. The support that I received from the veteran community was exceptional.
These men and women showed me what it means to be a veteran. To be a person who not only served but is committed to continuing that tradition of service for the next generation of men and women coming home from the next battlefield."
Organizer and beneficiary
Caitlyn West
Organizer
Mukwonago, WI
Alan Lewis
Beneficiary