More than 100 people turned out today (June 15) for a ceremony marking the start of construction on a Festus-area home for Marine Cpl. Justin McLoud and his family.
McLoud was wounded by an I.E.D. (improvised explosive device) while serving in Afghanistan in December 2010. He lost both legs and his left arm.
McLoud, 24, and his family attended the ceremony.
The home will be about 2,700 square feet and will be fully accessible to McLoud, who uses a wheelchair.
It is being built as part of the Homes for Our Troops program, which provides homes to wounded veterans at no cost.
Tucker Homes in Festus is the general contractor on the project.
The slab had been poured and walls had been assembled prior to the opening ceremony.
During the ceremony, the walls were put in place, and afterward other work on the house began.
C.T. Tucker, owner of Tucker Homes, said the house should be under roof and weather tight by the end of the weekend. Other work, like plumbing and electrical, will be completed later.
Tucker said the home is expected to be finished in eight to 10 weeks.
It is being built on Cindy Lane, off Cedar Trails Drive. The home has a Festus address, but is in Ste. Genevieve County.
At the ceremony, members of local VFW posts presented the family with a flag and plans to install a flagpole at the home.
McLoud, formerly of Cedar Hill, is a 2006 Hillsboro High graduate. His wife, Amber Stearns McLoud, is a 2007 Northwest High School graduate. They have a young son, Desmond.
-- Story by Kim Robertson; photo by Ted Howell
