United States Army Sergeant Legrand Strickland (Ret.) and his wife Carrie have moved into a new specially adapted smart home with the help of St Louis-based North American Van Lines Agent, Cord Moving and Storage.

Sgt. Strickland lost both legs and suffered a traumatic brain injury during a mission in Afghanistan in February 2010.  The couple’s new home was adapted by the Sinise Foundation’s RISE (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) programme, an organisation that hires local builders to construct smart homes that meet the individual physical challenges of wounded veterans and first responders.

Steve Ryan, owner of Cord Moving and Storage said, “The smart home will assist Legrand and Carrie with basic tasks many people take for granted every single day.”   

When Steve first heard about the foundation’s mission and work he was more than keen to help. “My first reaction wasn’t yes, but heck yes! This is the least we can do to help those who gave up so much to keep our country safe.” 

Cord Movers now makes up to 20 moves a year for RISE families in California, Maine, and Washington, to name just a few. 

Wayne Daniels, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Cord, himself a Vietnam veteran who received a Purple Heart for his service said, “I wish we didn’t have to do any of these moves because we don’t want to see disabled veterans. We even moved a 94-year-old World War II veteran to help him from being evicted.”

Cord has offices and warehouse facilities in St. Louis, Missouri; Dixon, Missouri; Belleville, Illinois and Memphis, Tennessee.

Photo: Carrie and Legrand outside their new home.