The Gary Sinise Foundation has stepped up once again to give a disabled veteran the gift of a lifetime in the form of a mortgage-free smart home in Tennessee.

Find out more about the work that the Gary Sinise Foundation is doing in the video below.

Veteran Is Given New Home

News Channel 9 reported that Sgt. Bryan Anderson is a Purple Heart recipient who lost both legs and his left hand while serving his country on two tours in Iraq. Ahead of Veterans Day, the foundation that was started by the Forrest Gump actor Gary Sinise gave Anderson a smart home that had been specifically adapted for him in the town of Cumberland Furnace.

The home will allow Anderson to have an easier time overcoming his daily mobility challenges while also allowing him to be more independent. Check out some photos from when the home was first being constructed earlier this year in the photos below.

The Gary Sinise Foundation website offers more insight into Anderson’s history as an American hero. 

“Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Bryan Anderson enlisted in the Army in April 2001 and had a ‘ship out’ date of September 11, 2001,” the website states. “He served two tours of duty in Iraq and was stationed in the Baghdad area. He attained the rank of Sergeant in the Military Police (MP), conducted police training courses in Iraq and gained additional law enforcement experience at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary as a prison guard.”

Related: Gary Sinise Honors Clint Eastwood For His Service During The Korean War

Anderson’s Injuries 

The foundation’s website goes on to talk about how Anderson was tragically injured. 

“In October 2005, Bryan was injured by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that resulted in the loss of both legs and his left hand,” the website said. “As a result of his injuries, he was awarded a Purple Heart. Bryan received rehabilitation for a period of 13 months at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He is one of the few triple amputees to have survived his injuries in Iraq.”

Anderson now travels the country to give speeches at rehab facilities as a the National Spokesman for Quantum Rehab, which is a division of Pride Mobility Corp. He is also a spokesman for USA Cares, a non-profit organization that focuses on helping post 9/11 veterans when they are in need. 

“I really have nothing to complain about,” Anderson recently told The Tennesseean.  “I have such an amazing life now that I couldn’t have even imagined having back before any of this had happened. I feel blessed and grateful.” 

Anderson also had nothing but praise for Sinise, who he described as “a good man, a great man.”

Related: Gary Sinise Honors Oldest WWII Veteran After He Dies At 112 – ‘An American Hero’

Sinise’s Foundation

Sinise was inspired to launch his foundation after playing the injured veteran Lt. Dan in the 1994 classic movie Forrest Gump.

“Freedom and security are precious gifts that we, as Americans, should never take for granted,” Sinise said in describing his foundation’s mission.

“We must do all we can to extend our hand in times of need to those who willingly sacrifice each day to provide that freedom and security,” the Oscar-nominated star added. “While we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation’s defenders, we can always do a little more.”

As we celebrate our nation’s veterans on Veteran’s Day, we also want to applaud Sinise for all the work he does to help them. We can’t end this story without thanking Sgt. Anderson for his service, and we hope he enjoys his smart home for many years to come! 

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