Armed Forces Day 2017 carried extra meaning for Arkansas Tech University alumnus and retired U.S. Army Sergeant Christopher Tarte.
He spent the morning of Saturday, May 20, in the W.O. Young Building Ballroom at ATU, surrounded by family and friends as the non-profit organization Homes For Our Troops hosted a community kickoff celebrating the construction of a four-bedroom, mortgage-free, adapted home in Russellville for Tarte and his three children.
“I love the fact that (Homes For Our Troops) allowed me to ask my children what color they wanted to paint their rooms,” said Tarte. “My kids each have their own rooms. Yesterday I got to go to the site, and I hadn’t been there in a month or two. It’s one thing to look at the property and say ‘this is going to be cool.’ It’s a whole different ballgame to actually see them start on things. This is starting to become real to me now.”
Tarte worked in the ATU Bookstore and the ATU Museum during his time as an undergraduate student. He was also active in the Church of Christ Student Center before earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communication in 2006.
He went on to serve his country in Afghanistan as a combat engineer. On Oct. 29, 2011, Tarte’s vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. His injuries included leg fractures in more than 10 places, a pulmonary embolism, vertebrae fractures and traumatic brain injury. His right leg was amputated below the knee, leading to months of rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
By February 2015, a prosthetic and physical therapy had Tarte running again. Today, he plays sitting volleyball, reads, paints, plays guitar and spends time with his kids.
Additional speakers during the ceremony at the Young Ballroom included Amy Pennington, dean of students and interim vice president for student services at ATU; Dan Chmura, vice president of purchasing for HARDI; Anna Huff, co-owner of Budget Blinds; Wes Tarte, father of the honoree; Marshall Kennedy, a veteran from Farmington and past recipient of an adapted home from Homes For Our Troops; and Rep. Trevor Drown.
Drown, an ATU alumnus who serves in the Arkansas House of Representatives, shared first-hand knowledge of the sacrifices made by veterans.
“Chris, Marshall and I have something in common…a bond that most people will never even begin to understand,” said Drown. “We have all served in the most dangerous place on Earth, the Helmand Province (in Afghanistan). I can tell you, what these men have experienced and the sacrifice they have given, no one will ever understand unless they’ve been there. I feel honored to have served and fought on the same ground as these men.”
Homes For Our Troops has constructed 231 homes in 41 states for disabled U.S. armed services veterans.
Tom Landwermeyer, president of Homes For Our Troops, said the organization expects to complete an additional 30 customized homes designed to meet the needs of disabled veterans before the end of 2017. During the community kickoff at Young Ballroom, Landwermeyer described the organization’s work as a “moral obligation” to support U.S. veterans.
“I’m very thankful that y’all are here today,” said Tarte. “I’m very thankful for what Homes For Our Troops is doing. I’m very thankful for what Tech has provided for me up to this point. And I’m very thankful for the support that I have from all of you. Because of people like you, in the last year I’ve learned to ride a motorcycle. I’ve started to qualify for two paralympic teams. Because of the support that Homes For Our Troops has given and the ability to have a mortgage-free home, my kids are very excited that they’ll be able to get more toys with the money that I’m saving. Thank you to everybody for making a difference. Now, I get a chance to better show my kids that they can do whatever they want. They can be whatever they want, and they don’t have to worry about the limitations that other people put on them. For that, I just want to thank you all very much.”
