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Home Depot gets disabled vet's house back on track

The Rocky

Published July 8, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Matt Keil watches as power tools are loaded into a shopping cart Monday at Home Depot in Parker. The store donated tools after equipment had been stolen from the site of a home being built for Keil, an Army veteran injured in Iraq, and his wife, Tracy.

Photo by Tim Hussin / The Rocky

Matt Keil watches as power tools are loaded into a shopping cart Monday at Home Depot in Parker. The store donated tools after equipment had been stolen from the site of a home being built for Keil, an Army veteran injured in Iraq, and his wife, Tracy.

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For Tracy Keil, wife of disabled Army vet Matt Keil, hanging out at a hardware store isn't exactly her idea of a good time.

But at the Home Depot on Monday in Parker, circumstances were a bit different. "This is probably the most fun I've ever had at Home Depot," she said, wearing a hat with the chain store's logo.

On Friday - the Fourth of July - thieves made off with a variety of tools belonging to volunteers from the nonprofit Homes for Our Troops, which is building a home free of charge for the couple.

Now, thanks to the $2,000 of tools donated by the Parker Home Depot on Monday, construction will continue, virtually uninterrupted.

The Keils went to Home Depot the day after the burglary to find a part for Matt's wheelchair. Store manager Glenn Richardson recognized them from the news and approached the couple. He immediately offered to replace the stolen tools.

"It's the least we could do," Richardson told the couple.

In September, Homes for Our Troops announced it would team with Pulte Homes to build a house for the Keils.

Matt Keil, 26, served in the Army for seven years before a sniper bullet hit the right side of his neck on Feb. 24, 2007, in Ramadi, Iraq.

The injury paralyzed his limbs. After months of therapy, he regained control of his left arm and can now speak clearly and eat whatever he wants.

He had a few words for the thieves. "I want to know why they did it. They had to see the sign," he said, referring to the Homes for Our Troops sign outside his future home.

Bret Hribar, a private contractor working on the Keils' house for Pulte Homes, lost thousands of dollars of his own equipment in the burglary.

"Thank God Home Depot stepped up and did this, or else I don't know where I'd be," the 36- year-old said.

Chris Townsley, Tracy Keil's sister, expressed shock at the robbery and thanks for Home Depot's generosity. "It's crazy taking tools from volunteers on the Fourth of July," Townsley said.

"To have Home Depot step up to the plate really shows community support for Matt," she said. "He gave a lot for us to be here. He gave a lot more than any of us."

Tracy Keil repeatedly expressed gratitude for the community's generosity.

"This was really cool. I'm kind of speechless that they were willing to step up and do this," she said of the volunteers. "They're building our future."

Comments

  • July 8, 2008

    2:21 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    happymike44 writes:

    I hope they find arrest and prosecute the pos who robbed him.
    Hope they get to spend a lot of time worrying about getting shanked.
    During their woderful time in the big house.
    Because anyone who steals from the disabled has no soul.
    They deserve to rot in jail for quite awhile.
    Lying thieving pos worthless person.

  • July 8, 2008

    3:19 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LOUIE writes:

    It's great to see this kid, who gave so much to his country, be given what he so justly has earned. God be with you kid; you paid your dues and then some. To Home Depot, thanks for stepping up to the plate, and giving this kid his dream back! Things like this are what make America great!

  • July 8, 2008

    6:30 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    danirobi writes:

    This is really great to see! Way to go Home Depot!

  • July 8, 2008

    7:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Buckwheat writes:

    Way to go Glenn, you and Home Depo can stand proud.. As for those scumbags who took the tools, I hope you choke on them...

  • July 8, 2008

    8:11 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DahmersCookbook writes:

    MATT YOU ARE A HERO, THANK YOU!

  • July 8, 2008

    8:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Coco writes:

    A lot of people think we are a bunch of right-wing, evangelical kooks down here in the Springs - which we all are not - but we ARE big supporters of our military. A huge THANK YOU to Matt from this Springs resident! Yeah Home Depot!