BUSHKILL TWP., Pa. — Daniel Lasko stood upon his newly sodded front lawn on Saturday, looked around at all the love, and called himself lucky.
The retired Marine Corps corporal did so while wearing a prosthetic left leg after nearly being killed by and sustaining a brain injury from an IED in Afghanistan nearly 20 years ago.
- Easton-area native Daniel Lasko, a retired Marine Corps corporal who lost his left leg in Afghanistan, welcomed 80 volunteers who helped sod his yard at his Bushkill Township home
- Homes For Our Troops, a national nonprofit that supports injured post-9/11 veterans, organized the event
- About 30,000 square feet of sod was donated by BrightView Landscape of Allentown
“I’ve got my wife, my two sons, and just look around at what’s going on here today,” the 41-year-old Easton-area native said, surrounded by his wife and high school sweetheart, Jess, and young sons, Lukas and Ben.
“For all these people — some who I don’t even know — to come here and help our family like this, yeah, I’m lucky.”
They came out in droves to Bushkill Township on a misty gray day to help the Laskos lay fresh sod at their new home built and donated in March by Homes For Our Troops, a national nonprofit that supports several injured post-9/11 veterans and has donated 353 homes to date.
For all these people — some who I don’t even know — to come here and help our family like this, yeah, I’m lucky.Daniel Lasko, retired Marine Corps veteran
In about two hours, 80 volunteers turned a dirt yard into 30,000 square feet of loving green. The volunteers were friends, neighbors, fellow veterans and school kids.
The ages spanned 75 to 7 — a mass of humanity on their knees rolling fresh sod donated by BrightView Landscape of Allentown, which also donated trees, plants, flowers and mulch.
“When we learned of this need in our own backyard, we didn’t hesitate to donate our services,” said David Freireich, vice president of public affairs for BrightView in Allentown. “This was an easy ask; this is meaningful for a veteran who needed the help.”
Seventy-two-year-old Lynn Whitesel, an Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War, came to help with his family from his home in Florida.
Why did he make the long trip?
“He’s a brother, it’s that simple,” Whitesel said.
The volunteer day at the Laskos was as much celebration as it was work. Folks wearing Homes for Our Troops T-shirts, lifting and rolling heavy sod one moment, laughing and smiling the next. A DJ played music throughout. Tents were erected beside the house for a lunch feast of pulled pork, chicken and side dishes donated by Texas Roadhouse, a longtime HFOT sponsor. They quenched their thirst on donated water from Sparkling Ice, also an HFOT sponsor since 2020.
Jess Lasko looked around at all the workers helping to make her family’s life better. She looked up at her husband who has been through hell and back and yet remains strong for his family.
“You know, given what he's gone through, and to have people willing to just show up on a Saturday and help is amazing,” she said. “We know people’s schedules are beloved; we know, we have kids. Schedules are packed. So for them to make the time and effort to help us means so much.”
She paused and looked around at all the support covered in soot and smiles.
“I don’t even know how to say thank you to these people,” she said. “Other than to just say it. So, thank you.”
Even Lasko’s old volleyball coach at Easton Area High School, Jeff Braido, came to help.
“We’re all here for the cause,” said Braido, who teaches history and was Easton's head football coach. “A lot of these people don’t even know Dan personally. I’m happy for him, these people helping, and the (HFOT) organization for helping Dan’s family."
“It’s important to also know that Dan also gives back, volunteering for the Wounded Warrior Project and other veteran organizations. That’s who he is.”
Barry Eichelberger of Wilson Borough removed his Desert Storm ball cap. He wiped his brow and took a brief but well-deserved break from putting down sod.
“It’s great to see this support,” the Navy veteran said. “Look, there’s even kids, some under the age of 10 helping.”
Eichelberger said Jess Lasko is his wife’s niece.
“Even without that family connection, I’d be here helping a fellow veteran,” he said. “But most of these people here don’t know the Laskos. That says something.”
It says Daniel Lasko is very lucky.
More than that, he’s blessed.
For more information about Homes For Our Troops or to donate, visit its website.
