In July of 2006 Sgt. Leonid Milkin was serving his country overseas when he got the phone call that no one wants to get....that his beloved family had been brutally murdered in their home that was then burned to the ground to cover up the horrific crimes. His loving wife, Olga; their adorable young sons Justin and Andrew; and sister in law, Lyubov Botvina murdered and the home destroyed.
Leo's one wish: to rebuild his home, and his life in honor of Olga, Justin, and Andrew.
After a long-awaited homecoming, more than 60 volunteers welcomed Leonid Milkin to his completed Kirkland home on Saturday.
About 18 months ago, the community began rebuilding Milkin's home.
Hundreds of volunteers rallied to build him a place to call home after the tragic loss of his family.
Everything from windows to doors, appliances to furniture was donated.
Leonid had spent the last 3 years sleeping on an air mattress. He had a dining table and a sofa which were donated by friends. Other than that, the house was blank.
We wanted to make that house a home, and on Saturday while Sgnt. Milkin was away, dozens of volunteers, including myself, worked hard to build a garage and furnish the home.
{Greenbaum home furnishings donated $50,000 worth of new furniture}
The yard was landscaped, trees and flowers in red, white, and blue planted.
I was the lucky one and got called in to do the interior.
I worked with the few family photos that were left.
I framed them and added fresh flowers to the rooms, and added accessories to make it complete.
I was 4 hours east of the mountains, but drove home late Friday night so that I could get to work early on Saturday, then drive back to meet my family camping.
This has changed me, and I will remember this day forever.
An arbor that survived the fire was rebuilt and a sign now hangs on it in the garden.
The flowers couldn't have been more perfect.
Sgnt. Milkin had no idea what was going on at his house. He thought it was getting cleaned.
He was so surprised to walk in and see 3 news camera in his home and all the people there.
He stands proudly under the American flag.
{center, red shirt, white jacket}
Michele Yousef on the left is the one who headed up this whole operation.
Without her, none of this would have happened.
Little and big, everyone came out to help!
I made this chalkboard for the kitchen.
The saying seemed appropriate.
All the light fixtures were donated.
His back yard.
Building the garage, in one day!
It was like an Extreme Home Makeover!
His 2 boys.....
His family did all the tile work.
The street was so busy they had to have local police doing traffic control.
Finishing the deck and stairs.
The kitchen was previously completed, but the glass tile back splash was a surprise.
Here he is, just walking in and seeing it for the first time!
In the master bedroom I framed photos of his wife and added a heart topiary.
The spare room got a gorgeous new iron bed.
Here is one of our local news women talking to John Greenbaum of Greenbaum home furnishings.
It was so inspiring to see this many volunteers who really cared about this man and his loss, and wanted to see this home completed so that he could move on with his life.
I painted this over the fireplace in the living room.
And his favorite photo of his wife Olga and their two boys, Justin and Andrew, is featured in a huge frame above the fireplace in the master bedroom. Every morning he can wake up and see them.
It truly was a honor being a part of this. I have met so many new friends and this whole experience has changed me for the better.
To read more about the story you can click
and
{I am in that video above}
and here.
xoxo
*first 7 photos courtey of Leonid Milkin's sister, Annetta.
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