PARKER, Colo. (CBS4) -
What kind of person steals from a quadriplegic veteran on the fourth of July?
That's the question Matt and Tracy Keil are asking after thieves broke into storage units on their home site in Parker and made off with homebuilding supplies and volunteer homebuilders' tools.
The site is clearly marked as the newly built home for a veteran sponsored by the national organization "Homes for our Troops."
Just one week ago, dozens of volunteers gathered for a 3 day "building brigade" and took the house from foundation to weather-secure frame. Volunteers from Pulte Home and other organizations worked non-stop through last weekend to make the Keils dream home a reality.
Most of the supplies for the home have been donated under through "Homes for our Troops."
By the end of last weekend, the Keils were celebrating.
On Friday, everything changed when they received word that their homesite had been vandalized and materials stolen.
"This is just too much," a tearful Tracy Keil told CBS4.
Staff Sgt. Matt Keil was shot by sniper on his second tour of duty in Iraq. The injury left him completely paralyzed. He has fought back from the injury to regain very limited use of his left hand and to breathe without a ventilator. CBS4 has featured stories about his recovery since he was admitted for treatment at Craig Hospital in Englewood in May of 2007.
The Keil family has become a symbol of hope, courage and optimism to other veterans and the public in general.
On Friday their optimism has been shaken by thieves who targeted a decorated veteran on the 4th of July.
Additional Resources
If you would like to send your support to Matt and Tracy Keil, you can contact them by logging on to their Caring Bridge Web site: caringbridge.org/visit/matthewkeil
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Comments: 52
That's great that Home Depot stepped up to replace the tools, I hope others will do the same.
I have learned that people will steal or destroy anything, but don't understand why.
My daughter is working as a park ranger this summer and over the holiday weekend, campers stole all the toilet paper and ripped the dispensers off the walls. Why? How is this fun? Society seems to have failed to teach compassion and accountability.
http://eeverettmcfall.blogspot.com
We would like to interview Matt and Tracy on our "Veterans' Forum'
internet radio show. http://internetvoicesradio.com ---Can you
assist us?
NOW!! Those bottom feeders not need adjustments to their attitudes,
they need re-arangements of certain body parts- nuff said.
Doc E. Everett McFall
USMC- Vietnam 1966-1967
I tried donating to "Homes for Veterans" before online but it never went through and after a while I finally gave up. Thanks for the reminder, I'll have to try it again.
The will answer for it one day.
10 Stars Speedy!
I hope the thieves are caught..which they probably will be one they try and pawn the tools and supplies. Let's just hope the law doesn't let them skate like their parents have.
This is the second horrible story involving a Veteran I have read. The other was about spitting on the grave of a Veteran. These people do not belong in society, much less the USA> This couple is in my prayers. And God bless them. Ellen B
It is my understanding that when a house is in the process of being built, regardless of signage about it being done so voluntarily for a disable vet, is when they are most likely to be stolen from.
However, with that said all that is left is the harsh reality that these thieves are of the same mindset who decide to rob elderly people who are often widowed and they know this going in. They aren't so worried about having to sneak in when no one is home (such as these thievs you wrote of were going for an unoccupied unwatched site) sine they can easily overpower them and will cause them great harm.
It is my sincerest hope that this story will generate another outpouring of time and money in order to get this housee back on track.
I'm sure it will be something worthy if they don't make amends and repent for their detestable sin against their fellow man...
Vengence is mine, saeeth the Lord...An eye for an eye...
I hope those people got caught and had to clean up their mess x 10 as a combined time and community service sentence.