Injured Marine Greg Caron Welcomed Into New Ellington Home

Walking tall on two prosthetic legs the Ellington Marine, who was once confined to a bed at a military hospital after a 2011 injury in Afghanistan, strode confidently into his new home in town.

Saturday, Sept. 28, marked the homecoming for Greg Caron and his wife Nina, who were given the keys to a brand new, mortgage-free home on Abbott Road that was built entirely by volunteers and financed by Building Homes for Heroes.

Dozens of people, including family members, friends, members of the community, contractors, fellow Marines and government dignitaries, came together to celebrate the occasion. Saturday's event was the culmination of a year-long project that drew help and support from hundreds.

"Everybody asks me how do I get this courage and strength to be here and to be myself, and you know what, the answer is you guys," Caron said as he stood next to the new property during the speaking portion of the event. "All you standing out here in front of me, you guys just motivate me to want to be a better person and to continue on with my life."

Caron, 27, a 2004 graduate of Ellington High School, lost both of his legs from shrapnel after an improvised explosive device went off in November 2011 while the USMC sergeant was on tour in Afghanistan. He spent nine months at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, an experience he described Saturday as being "depressing" as he saw fellow Marines come in every day with injuries worse than his.

Within days of the terrible news, his community banded together to find ways to help, holding fundraisers and benefit events. 

Then, in 2012, Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit based out of Long Island, announced it would commence its first Connecticut-based project by financing the construction of a home for Caron and his family.

The groundbreaking was last year, with building companies and suppliers donating time, resources and effort to the cause. Greg Caron's father, Gary Caron, also participated in the home construction effort.

Andrew Pujol, president of Building Homes for Heroes, said 70 percent of the materials used in Caron's new home were donated. Over 200 companies jumped in to help and over 1,000 volunteers. 

"We all share equally in this special gift; one that is identifiable and quantifiable for all to see," Pujol said. "We are rebuilding lives. On occasion we are saving lives. Together, we are making our communities and our country a better place, and how many people can say that?"

Caron thanked Pujol, saying he didn't know where he would be today "if you didn't join my family." He also thanked family, contractors, distributors and Tolland-based Nordic Builders for probably "putting in 18 hours a day" to the project.

And last, but not least, he thanked his wife, Nina Caron, saying she was the "best wife a man can have."

"Just to tell you how she is, she beat me to Walter Reed," Caron said as the crowd laughed. "So when she found what happened, I think she slammed like six Red Bulls and shot down to Walter Reed. I can't thank you enough."

As for what's next, he said his life is "nowhere near being over." 

"I've got some unfinished business. I want to help Andy build more homes for more veterans," Caron said, as the crowd applauded.