November 08, 2007 // Franchising.com // Colorado Springs, CO - Dave Liniger, Chairman of the Board, and founder of RE/MAX International Inc., will receive the first ever "Soaring Above The Crowd" award from the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce. The award will be presented at this year's annual dinner on November 8, 2007 at 7 pm at the Broadmoor Hotel's International Center.
Liniger is being recognized for his commitment to assisting those who serve our country. RE/MAX International, Inc. has several programs, including Operation RE/MAX, an effort to help military spouses in careers in real estate, and the RE/MAX "Tour for the Troops", a fundraising effort to benefit the Sentinels of Freedom Foundation. RE/MAX has made a commitment to help the Foundation grow nationwide.
For every American soldier who dies in Iraq, there are many more who survive, thanks to cutting edge medical care. But that means many more severely wounded are coming home, faced with the challenge of putting their lives back together. This is where the Sentinels of Freedom Foundation comes in.
Working with local communities, the Foundation provides housing, transportation, and education or job training for each wounded veteran. The assistance comes in the form of a four year "life scholarship". The goal is to help each Sentinel become completely self-sufficient by the end of the scholarship.
At the Chamber meeting, Liniger will introduce the first Sentinel to be placed in Colorado Springs. Staff Sergeant Joseph Fowler was injured in Baghdad, Iraq on December 11, 2005, when the Humvee he was riding in hit an anti-tank mine and burst into flames. Fowler was burned over 50 percent of his body, and spent more than five months at the Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Fowler was a dog handler, assigned to the 148th Police Detachment at Fort Carson, and attached to the 10th Mountain Division when he was injured. Joseph and his police dog were en route to a warehouse to screen ballot boxes, and to check for bombs, when the Humvee was hit. "I remember everything from the accident," says Fowler. "I opened my eyes, seeing orange flames coming up from my body, yelling at someone to put the fire out."
The driver and the dog were killed instantly. Joseph and one other soldier survived. "The soldier sitting right in front of me passed away in the explosion," says Fowler. "And, so every once in a while, I think it was only a matter of inches. I consider myself very lucky and fortunate".
While he was deployed, his son, Shane was born to wife Leslie at the Evans U.S. Army Hospital at Fort Carson. Shane was 11 weeks old when Joseph was injured, and met his father for the first time at Brooke Army Medical Center. "Basically, the doctors didn't have a good idea of how life would be for Joe," says Leslie. "Because with burn injuries, everyone is different, they heal differently." So far, Joseph has had 18 surgeries.
"It's so nice to see that there are people out there that do want to help us get back on our feet" says Joe. "We can't wait to get back to Colorado Springs."