Many in our community know what it’s like to be in the military and be a part of combat in a war.

Few of us could possibly understand the devastation of being so critically wounded that our lives are changed — forever.

And then all of this happening when we’re in our early 20s.

Our hearts went out to Ryan and Carrie Newell and their children when we heard the devastating news a couple of years ago that Ryan had been critically wounded, causing him to lose both legs.

This community rallied around them.

Local American Legion Riders built a handicapped ramp at the Newell home on Main Street.

When volunteers were needed to help build a home through the Homes for Our Troops program, this community stepped up in a big way — including professionals forfeiting paying jobs to donate their services to the project.

It was that important to us to help the Newells.

Carrie is a Marion product, having graduated from Marion High School, and her parents are longtime residents. We took Ryan in as one of our own.

Nothing has changed.

We still support the Newell and Wunderlick families.

We will still roll up our sleeves and do whatever is needed to help the family get through this crisis.

That’s what we do in Marion. We don’t stop caring when trouble happens.

We care more.

— susan berg