Town Pulls Together for Paralyzed Vet

From left: Andrew Parker, 21; Winnie Barnes, Andrew's mom, 40; Morgan Barnes, Andrew's sister, 16; Greg Barnes, Andrew's stepdad, 44.

(Courtesy of Greg Barnes)

Soldier's Homecoming: 'Overwhelming'

"I'm not really one who wants to ask for help, but it's my boy, so you kinda let things happen for your family members," Parker's stepfather, Greg Barnes, 44, said.

The community support "has been overwhelming to me," he said, adding that he found it remarkable "how well everyone came together to do this project."

Crews are still doing touch-up work on the home, widening doors to a bedroom and the main entrance to accommodate Parker's wheelchair.

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Parker was discharged from the VFW last Friday, giving him a work dog -- the dog is trained to pick things off the floor, fetch and more. The soldier is training with the dog right now in Princeton, Mass. But he's headed home today to be grand marshal in the Morristown July 4 parade.

After the parade, Parker will train with the dog for one more week before heading home for good.

"We have a beautiful home for Andrew," teacher Marcoux-LaClair said. "Look what he has to come home to."