Project #11: Staff Sergeant Edward Denell
Nashua, NH – Building Dreams for Marines (BDFM), a non-profit organization with the mission of assisting New Hampshire Marine veterans with life-enhancing renovations to their home is pleased to announce it recently completed a project for Staff Sergeant Edward Denell of Milford. The project, which is BDFM 11 project focused on stairs leading to the basement, which is where Staff Sgt. Denell’s woodworking shop is located. Suffering from a condition called syncope where he loses sudden temporary consciousness caused by a fall in blood condition, Staff Sgt. Denell is unable to work a full-time job outside of his home. He supplements his income by various woodworking projects including his recent project for the local Republican party. He crafted a replica of the White House, staffed with miniature patrolling Marines (see picture).
“I’m thankful for Building Dream for Marines and their assistance with the staircase leading to my woodworking shop,” said Staff Sgt. Denell. “The stairs were decaying and becoming unsafe for both myself and my wife, Elinda to use. The new stairs will allow me to safely return to woodworking, a hobby that I love and that has turned into a revenue source.”
Staff Sgt. Denell was stationed in Oahu, Hawaii twice and was an avid member of the local outrigger canoe team competing in races with distances of 100 miles. After his tour in Hawaii, he was stationed in Quantico, Virginia where he met his wife, Elinda. Later he did a tour in Okinawa, Japan. Staff Sgt. Denell is a second generation Marine. It was from his father where he learned to catalog his tours through art, sending letters home with humorous character drawings (see 2 pictures).
“Staff Sgt. Denell’s project was a simple renovation but one that was so important to him and his craft,” said Gwen Krailo, Building Dreams for Marines co-founder. “Building Dreams for Marines is honored to provide these services to our New Hampshire Marines in need. We encourage anyone that knows a Marine honorably discharged and in need should reach out to us.”
The staircase was completed by Belfor Property Restoration who donated the material and discounted their labor costs (see photo attached), photo caption: L-R, Keith Hutchinson, Belfor Property Restoration, Staff Sgt. Denell and Lee Whitney, Volunteer, Belfor Property Restoration. Also working on the project and not pictured here was John Marois.
