Ramp Up
A healthy turnout for a wounded soldier.
Jim Murphy read about Marine Cpl. Steven Kiernan in the Press Democrat and knew he wanted to help. Cpl. Kiernan was critically wounded in Fallujah, Iraq on May 4, 2008. He lost his left foot and right leg to mid-thigh as a result of an IED explosion.
Jim contacted Press Democrat writer, Rayne Wolfe who put him in touch with Kiernan’s family. The family welcomed Jim’s offer to help. Cpl. Kiernan walks with a prosthetic leg and foot, but also uses a wheelchair when at his leisure.
Jim set about organizing a work force to make Steven’s father’s home accessible to a wheelchair. Soliciting materials and workers from construction business contacts, Jim offered the opportunity to anyone who wanted to help. Lumber and cement donated by local suppliers were delivered to the job site in north Petaluma. Then, on a Saturday in September, two dozen volunteers arrived to construct a ramp, remodel a bathroom and widen doorways and an access hall.
Leading the construction project were Jim Murphy and Jesse Gladman. The JMA team consisted of Eric Neilson, Buzz Gould, Marty Costa, Ernie Cordiero, Bob Hebbelwhite, Jim Tompkins, Alice Rowan, Dan Karlstad, John Fox, Jesse Gladman, Dustin Green, Salvador Perez, Salvador Lopez, Pedro Hernandez and family members of JMA employees, Russ Denner, Judi Murphy and Michael Severi.
The following firms contributed building materials, and in some cases, on-site labor:
Safety oversight and labor: American Safety Consultants Inc., Novato, Rich Lawler
Plumbing materials and labor: LeDuc and Dexter, Santa Rosa, Martin Sigala
Doors and frames: HTI (Hardware Tech), Santa Rosa
Drywall and labor: Tsarnas Drywall, John Tsarnas, Healdsburg
Paint and labor: Mastertouch Painting, Santa Rosa, Tom Schalich
Flooring and labor: Conklin Bros, Santa Rosa, Wayne O'Connor
Cabinets and labor: Pacific Hardwood Cabinets, Santa Rosa, Dan Bauman
Design and Plans: James McCalligan Architects, Santa Rosa
Lumber: Healdsburg Lumber, Healdsburg
Lumber: Central Valley Supply, Healdsburg
Concrete: SLF Concrete Construction, Inc, Windsor