Rebuilding Together, the United States’ largest volunteer home rehabilitation organization, is providing modifications and repairs at the home of Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Christopher Edwards through its Serving Those Who Serve(SM) program today. Countrywide(R) Financial Corporation, America’s #1 home loan lender*, has contributed more than $1.2 million as the founding sponsor of a nationwide program that provides free home modifications to severely-injured soldiers and veterans returning from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Volunteers from Countrywide and Rebuilding Together-San Antonio are joining with local contractors and vendors to assist Sgt. Edwards and his family.

In early 2005, Sgt. Edwards was stationed in the Sunni Triangle in Iraq, where his unit went on daily security patrols throughout the region. That April, Sgt. Edwards volunteered to fill in for an ill soldier and was sent to investigate reports of insurgents planting bombs. While riding in his M2A2 Bradley fighting vehicle, Sgt. Edwards and his group came to a dirt-covered bridge. While crossing the bridge a 500 pound bomb exploded beneath his vehicle, igniting the gun turret where Sgt. Edwards stood and setting fire to the vehicle and Sgt. Edwards. He was pushed out of the burning vehicle by his platoon sergeant and made it to a canal near the bridge where he extinguished himself in six inches of water. The explosion left Sgt. Edwards with third degree burns covering 79 percent of his body.

Sgt. Edwards, his wife Tammy and their young son Riley live in a two-story home just outside of San Antonio in Cibolo, Texas. Rebuilding Together’s Serving Those Who Serve program is improving accessibility in the home by providing modifications that include remodeling the master bathroom with a zero entry shower; installing ceiling fans, mini blinds, lever door handles and a wheelchair ramp; painting and landscaping.

The Feb. 24th ceremony will feature presentations from Gary Officer, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together; Rep. Henry Cuellar, 28th Congressional District; Texas State Rep. Edmund Kuempel, District 44; Joan Headley, executive director, Rebuilding Together-San Antonio; Robert Power, executive vice president of public affairs for Countrywide; and Homeowners Christopher and Tammy Edwards.

Previous Serving Those Who Serve projects have been completed in Rosedale, Md.; Manassas Park, Va.; Birmingham, Ala.; Clinton, Md.; Miramar, Fla.; Houston, Texas; and Lake View Terrace, Calif.

For further information about the Serving Those Who Serve program or to make a contribution online, go to www.ServingThoseWhoServe.org.