On October 23, 2005, a roadside bomb detonated beneath a Humvee rolling through Baghdad. Inside that Humvee was 24-year old Army Spc. Bryan Anderson of Rolling Meadows, a former gymnast at Rolling Meadows High School and a handsome young man with an easy smile.

That day, Anderson became the fourth American servicemember to lose three limbs in Iraq. He lost both legs and his left arm below the elbow. Anderson also suffered abdominal injuries and a collapsed lung. His remaining right hand was mangled.

But Anderson showed a will to survive. Making an amzing recovery, Anderson walked on artificial legs up the jetway at O'Hare Airport in November, returning home just 13 months after suffering those devastating injuries in Iraq.

Still sporting that easy smile, Anderson is an inspiration to all of us in Illinois.

On November 22, 2006, Lt. Governor Quinn joined Rolling Meadows citizens to surprise the recently promoted Sgt. Bryan Anderson with a newly remodeled, fully handicap-accessible home. Bryan's new one-bedroom wing allows him to live independently - a special gift for any severely wounded soldier.

Anderson's family home was reconstructed and outfitted by the Kennedy Homes Builders and their vendors. The Rolling Meadows Rotary Club and the citizens of Rolling Meadows were also instrumental in creating Bryan's new home.

Quinn honored all of the builders and vendors with Homefront Hero awards and declared November 22, 2006 "Sgt. Bryan Anderson Day" in Illinois.