Military Officer - September 2006 - (Page 19) rapidfire NEWS YOU CAN USE Homes for Our Troops Some active duty servicemembers and veterans might qualify for one of eight homes on New York’s Long Island that will be donated to Homes for Our Troops. GMH Military Housing LLC owns the houses. The Navy owns the land. To qualify, an active duty servicemember or veteran must have been wounded in combat after Sept. 11, 2001; meet the Islamic Prayer Center Dedicated C alling freedom of religion a principal right in “a nation of people from all races and creeds who believe in liberty and freedom,” Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England helped dedicate the first Marine Corps Islamic prayer center June 6 at the Quantico, Va., Marine Corps Base. Twenty-four of the 426 Muslim Marines currently serving are stationed at Quantico. “The Marine Corps is recognizing diversity in the Marine Corps, and I’m just happy to have a place to go worship,” says Staff Sgt. Madyun Shahid, USMC, currently stationed at Quantico. The center is only temporary until an extension to the existing Marine Corps Chapel is complete. Groundbreaking for the extension is scheduled for this fall, and completion is expected in 2008. “The Islamic prayer center is really an extension of our ethos, [the] ethos that we take care of one another,” says Gen. Michael Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps. “It is going to provide our Muslim Marines and their families, Muslim Department of Defense civilians, and Muslim international military personnel serving with us a proper place for religious services.” VA “Specially Adapted Home” grant guidelines; have earned an overseas campaign or expeditionary medal, as required for membership in VFW; and be on active duty or in the reserves or have been honorably discharged from the military. The 1,200-squarefoot, 1930s-era homes will be renovated to meet the needs of the servicemembers who move into them. To learn more, call (866) 787-6677, or visit www .homesforourtroops.org. MILITARY OFFICER PHOTOS: ABOVE, MICHAEL TEMCHINE; RIGHT, COURTESY TONY BUCZYNSKI/GMH MILITARY HOUSING SEPTEMBER 2006 19 http://www.homesforourtroops.org http://www.homesforourtroops.org
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