HOWELL – United States Marine Cpl. Scott Nokes got a Christmas present early. He received the key to a new Smart Home back on December 23.
The home is located on White Street and he was joined for the official ceremony by township and state officials and members of veteran support organizations that morning.
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation presented Nokes with the key a specially adapted, mortgage-free Smart Home. A smart home is a residence that is specially equipped with electronic devices that can be controlled remotely by phone and/or computer.
Nokes served two deployments in Afghanistan and was a rifleman assigned to 1/8 Charlie Company. While on his second deployment, he developed dysentery, which led to unresolved issues, sepsis and the eventual amputation of both his legs below the knee as well as most of his eyesight.
The Marine is an avid hiker and camper who hopes to develop a career in peer mentorship. His time with the U.S. Marine Corps began on his 17th birthday in 2008. Nokes went to boot camp after his high school graduation in July, 2009. His two tours of duty ran from September 2010 through March 2011, and January 2012 through July 2012. Both his tours involved his being part of the 1/8 Battalion Marines Charlie Company.
The ceremony held at his new home included U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (R-4th) who was joined by representatives from the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation, local elected officials, members of law enforcement agencies and military veterans.
Smith, well known for his strong support of veterans issues, wrote the Veterans Benefit Act in 2003 that increased government funding to $50,000 for Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) programs for severely disabled service members.
The SAH program allows veterans like Nokes the ability to live independently. It does not however cover the entire cost of home ownership.
Members of the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation took on the task of building Nokes’ White Street residence. The Foundation partnered with Home Depot and the Home Depot Foundation. The home was custom designed and will be mortgage free.
Nokes was speechless during the ceremony. He had supported the foundation he needed their help, and he said it felt like everything had come full circle.
“Scott earned this house through his incredible acts of courage. He signed up to fight for his country, he volunteered to protect his community as a firefighter, and he showed us all what he was made of as he recovered from the loss of his legs and his sight. Through his actions, he has shown us all what a true hero looks like. This home will restore some of the independence he lost because of his injuries. We hope it will change Scott’s life, and we wish him all the best,” Tunnel to Towers Foundation Chairman and CEO Frank Siller said.
Construction on the house began on July 29 and Howell Councilman Thomas Russo was there for the ground breaking. He returned for Nokes walking into his home for the first time.
“Back in July at the groundbreaking ceremony for Corporal Nokes’s new Smart Home, I said that was probably the best day I’ve ever had as a councilman of Howell. I take that back. Being able to see him walk into his new smart home for the first time was an honor that I cannot put into words,” he said.
“Thank you to Kathy Cunningham, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and all of the members of Team Shamrock for giving so much of themselves to make sure our heroes get taken care of when they come home,” Russo said.
Deputy Mayor Evelyn O’Donnell described Nokes receiving the keys to his home as a proud and humbling moment.
The Tunnel To Towers Foundation honors Fire Department of New York firefighter Stephen Siller. During the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001, Siller, who was assigned to Brooklyn’s Squad 1, had just finished his shift and was on his way to play golf with his brothers when he got word over his scanner of a plane hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Center, according to the website tunnel2towers.org
Upon hearing the news, Siller called his wife Sally and asked her to tell his brothers he would catch up with them later. He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear and drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it had already been closed for security purposes, according to the website.
Determined to carry out his duty, Siller strapped 60 pounds of gear to his back and raced on foot through the tunnel to the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, where he gave his life while saving others. Siller is survived by his wife and five children, according to the website.
