McKinney, Texas – It has been a long road home for United States Marine Corporal Brian Aft, who in April, 2011, lost both legs to an enemy improvised explosive device (IED) while on patrol in Afghanistan. Brian, along with his bomb dog “Buckshot”, survived the horrifying ordeal and now live together as retired veterans of the United States Marine Corps.On September 5, 2014, McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller, along with an outpouring of McKinney citizens, welcomed Brian home to McKinney at the ground-breaking dedication of his new home that is being built for him by Smiles Charity.
Smiles Charity, headed by local Orthodontist, Dr. Jennifer Buchannan, has supported our wounded veterans of the War on Terror for a number of years by raising money through community fund-raising benefit concerts. In the past, Smiles Charity has partnered with other sponsoring organizations to build homes, but in Brian’s case Smiles Charity is sponsoring the home-building effort through the generosity of businesses and the citizens of McKinney and North Texas.
In addition to numerous sponsors and an outpouring of citizens attending this event, American Legion Department of Texas Vice Commander Fred Rogers said, “Smiles Charity is a great example of a well-organized grassroots organization that works together as a team whose efforts make a significant difference in our world. Today is a great reminder of our responsibility as citizens to help care for our military forces that have given so much to protect our freedoms.”
Accompanying Fred Rogers was Jim Meiseman, commander of local “Bill Bryan” Post 110 from McKinney, to welcome Brian as a new post member. With the groundbreaking complete and the foundation poured, all things are on track to have Brian and Buckshot moving into his new home before the end of the year. Welcome home, Brian, welcome home.
American Legion "Bill Bryan" Post 110 meets at the TPC Craig Ranch on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm. All qualified veterans are encouraged to join.