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• What is Homes for Our Troops?
• Who is Sergeant Marcus Kuboy?
• Supplemental Information
• Media Coverage

 

 

Minnesota credit unions, Homes for Our Troops, Republican National Convention & National
Journal, present house to Sgt. Marcus Kuboy


More than 200 people from Minnesota credit unions, Homes for Our Troops, Republican National Convention staff, and the community came together on Sept. 1 to welcome Sgt. Marcus Kuboy to his new home in Woodbury. Sgt. Kuboy was surrounded by supporters on Monday as he received the keys to his house, which is specially-adapted to help reduce the burden of the injuries he sustained in Iraq.

The key ceremony was the culmination of a nine-month project consisting of hundreds of volunteers donating their time and money to the building of the house. Credit unions’ involvement in the project began with fundraising in January and continued through attendance at the groundbreaking in April and participation in the volunteer days in June and August. A similar house was built in Denver and was presented to Staff Sergeant Travis Strong last week during the Democratic National Convention.

Sgt. Marcus Kuboy rattled the keys to his new house which was presented to him Sept. 1. (L-R) Dan Mica, CUNA President/CEO; Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty; Sgt. Kuboy; John Gonsalves, President & Founder of Homes for Our Troops; and Mark D. Cummins, MnCUN President & CEO.


With both projects, America’s credit unions partnered with the National Journal and Homes for Our Troops, an organization that builds specially-adapted houses for severely wounded war veterans. The Republican National Committee was heavily involved in the St. Paul initiative. Funding for the project came from credit unions and partners around the country, raising more than $350,000 for Homes for Our Troops.

At the Monday key presentation ceremony, CUNA President/CEO Dan Mica welcomed the supporting groups in attendance and thanked them for making the construction of the house possible.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty attended the ceremony and expressed his gratitude to Sgt. Kuboy and all those who serve in the military for the countless sacrifices they make. He urged those not in the military to serve their country in other ways.

“If [our soldiers] are willing to give us their all, then we need to be prepared to give them our all back,” said Gov. Pawlenty. “I am so proud and pleased of this effort to give back to our American hero Sgt. Kuboy.”

John Gonsalves, President & Founder of Homes for Our Troops, commended
the volunteers who helped with the construction of Sgt. Kuboy’s home and the volunteers around the country who assist Homes for Our Troops with its building projects.
“We look to people to volunteer for the greatest volunteers of our country – the men and women of our military,” said Gonsalves. “Supporting our troops is not a right thing or a left thing – it’s the right thing.”

Before receiving the keys to his new house, Sgt. Kuboy shared the story of his injury and thanked the countless people who have supported him during his recovery, including the credit union volunteers who participated in the construction of his house.

“When things were hard for me [while I was injured], I looked to people that would support me and lift me up, and to me that is what a hero is,” said Sgt. Kuboy. “There’s a lot of heroes here today. I look at you all, and I call you heroes – you are my heroes.”

“This project has personified the main philosophy and principles of credit unions. Every day credit unions serve their members in a way that meets each person’s unique needs,” said Mark D. Cummins, President & CEO of the Minnesota Credit Union Network. “This one project may be completed but credit unions’ service to our veterans is far from being over.”

Sgt. Kuboy toured his home on Monday, which was decorated and furnished by credit unions and other supporting businesses.

 

 

RIGHT: Credit unions contributing to the Homes for Our Troops project were recognized with a lawn sign placed outside Sgt. Kuboy’s house in Woodbury.

LEFT: Gov. Tim Pawlenty (right) presented Sgt. Kuboy with a Certificate of Commendation from the state of Minnesota.

 

 

 

Founded in 2004, Homes for Our Troops is a national non-profit, non-partisan organization committed to assisting severely injured and disabled servicemen and women and their immediate families. This organization works with local contractors to build new homes that are handicap-accessible, often for multiple amputees and individuals with spinal cord injuries.

On Sept. 1-4, 2008, national attention focused on Minnesota as St. Paul hosted the National Convention. A similar project was coordinated in Denver.

Minnesota credit unions received state and national attention during this time for their involvement with the Homes for Our Troops project. Minnesota credit unions provided the funding and volunteer support necessary to complete this project.

Click here to view the video!

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Sergeant Marcus Kuboy, 30, served three years active duty for the Minnesota National Guard. His tour in Iraq was initially due to end on March 21, 2007, but it was extended by six months to support the troop surge. While patrolling the outskirts of Fallujah with his unit (2/136 CAB) on March 23, 2007, the truck Sgt. Kuboy’s was riding in ran over an IED bomb, causing it to explode. He and his vehicle were airborne, and Sgt. Kuboy was ejected.

The explosion severely injured Sgt. Kuboy’s legs, and he broke his back, left arm and jaw upon landing. One soldier died in the attack and Sgt. Kuboy’s roommate had both his legs broken when the truck he had been in landed on them. Sgt. Kuboy does not remember the attack.

Sgt. Kuboy was the Army Medic for his unit and he also served as the unit trainer for the Combat Life Saver Qualification program. Sgt. Kuboy’s skill and training are credited for saving his life and that of his roommate.
Sgt. Kuboy spent his initial recovery of four-and-a-half months as a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He then spent five months as an outpatient at the Fisherhouse in Washington, D.C. During those months, he endured eight surgeries. Sgt. Kuboy is now part of the Community Based Health Care Operation (part of the U.S. Army Medical Command) for injured soldiers, which allows wounded war veterans to rehabilitate closer to home. He has suffered some setbacks on the road to recovery, including a serious bone infection in his left leg that may lead to amputation. While his right leg sustained the brunt of the damage in Iraq, it does appear to be healing, so hopefully it will not need to be amputated. He needs to use a wheelchair to get around, but can use crutches if it is just a short distance.

Sgt. Kuboy is a Minnesota native, and his parents currently live in Minneapolis. Sgt. Kuboy was born in Robbinsdale, but grew up in New Hope. He is a graduate of the Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in Plymouth where he played hockey and football. In the summers, he enjoyed playing softball in local leagues. Marcus also attended the Minneapolis Community & Technical College, where he studied history.

Sgt. Kuboy is very excited to call St. Paul his new hometown. He says the city is full of history and has a lot of character. He is very thankful that people have separated the war from the soldiers – especially how it has brought out the best in a lot of good people.

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VIDEO
Click here to check out the new Homes for Our Troops video featuring Minnesota credit unions!

NEWSLETTER ARTICLE & PHOTOS
A sample article is available that can be be personalized and published in your credit union’s newsletter, on your web site, or anywhere else you see fit.

  • Sample Newsletter Article
  • Photos of Lawn Signs (27 photos)
    • More than 45 Minnesota credit unions participated in the Homes for Our Troops project, taking part in the fundraising efforts and volunteer days.
  • Photos of the Deeding Ceremony (24 photos)
    • Sgt. Marcus Kuboy received the keys to his new house on Sept. 1. Several important figures were involved in the ceremony, including Gov. Tim Pawlenty, CUNA President & CEO Dan Mica, MnCUN President & CEO Mark Cummins, and CO-OP Financial Services President & CEO Stan Hollen. (For specific photo caption information, please contact Rachel Kuenzel at the Network office.)
  • Photos of the Home (10 photos)
    • Credit unions and other supporting businesses provided the decorating and furnishing of Sgt. Kuboy’s home.

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PRESS RELEASES:

  • Sept. 2, 2008 “Credit unions & supporting groups gather to hand over house keys to veteran”
  • Aug. 15, 2008 “2008 Republican National Convention, supporting groups host ‘Volunteer Day’ to landscape home for wounded Iraq vet”
  • Aug. 11, 2008 “Minnesota credit unions surpass $150,000 fundraising goal”
  • June 26, 2008 “Republican National Convention Committee, Supporting Groups Host “Build Brigade” to Construct Home for Wounded Iraq Veteran”
  • April 28, 2008 “Republican National Convention & supporting groups break ground for wounded Iraq veteran’s home”
  • Feb. 22, 2008 ”Minnesota war veteran to receive new home – Credit unions, Republican National Convention, others teaming up for service project”

NEWS COVERAGE:


Minnesota’s KSTP Channel 5 Eyewitness News reporter Chris O’Connell interviewed Sgt. Kuboy at the Minnesota Credit Union Network office in St. Paul on Feb. 25.

 


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