Project: FALLEN HERO

[Sir Charles]

LOCAL MUSTANG ENTHUSIASTS UNITE TO RESTORE CAR IN HONOR OF FALLEN SPECIAL FORCES MAJOR JEFF CALERO

Boston - A team of local Mustang enthusiasts has united to restore the 1988 Ford Mustang GT, belonging to fallen U.S. Army, Special Forces Maj. Jeff Calero, as a mobile tribute to the Special Forces Major. Maj. Calero was killed in action by an IED October 29, 2007 while on a combat reconnaissance patrol in Kajaki, Afghanistan. He had planned to restore the car himself upon his return from active duty. The project was founded by Sgt. Fabio Falorni, of Methuen. Sgt. Falorni is a veteran of two tours of duty in Iraq. He is presently assigned to Reserve Duty at the Army National Guard Armory in Hudson, MA. He came across the Mustang belonging to Maj. Calero on October 29, 2008 while picking up supplies for his unit at the Army National Guard Amory in Springfield, MA.

Sgt. Falori saw the car sitting in a fenced in area behind the Armory. As a long time Mustang enthusiast, it piqued his curiosity as to why the car was there. When he inquired about it, he was told about how the car belonged to Maj. Calero who had been killed in action a year ago to that day. Upon Maj. Calero’s passing, the family did not know what to do with the car so it remained at the Springfield Armory where it had been parked since he deployed to Afghanistan in 2006. Sgt. Falorni was informed that Maj. Calero had often talked about his plans for the car upon his return from active duty. He was also told that the Commander of the Armory was looking to have the car towed away since the family didn’t claim it. Sgt. Falorni requested permission from the Commander and the Maj. Calero's family to restore the car. He also reached out to his fellow Mustang enthusiasts to recruit their help in restoring the Mustang. After 10 anxious days of waiting, he was granted permission to come and pick up the car.

Ed Yessaian, of Tewksbury and Carol Meyer, of Marlborough, amongst many other Mustang enthusiasts, responded to Sgt. Falorni's request for help. Together they formed the team that now leads the restoration project. Carol Meyer and Sgt. Falorni traveled to the Springfield Armory on November 16, 2008 to retrieve the car with her enclosed trailer. They met with Sfc. Ed Diaz at the Springfield Armory that day, who spoke fondly of his friend Maj. Calero and his "illogical devotion" to his Mustang. Sfc. Diaz expressed his and the family's sincerest gratitude for the undertaking of the project. It is thru Sfc. Diaz that Sgt. Falorni was advised of the specific plans Maj. Calero had for restoring his car. As they pulled away from the Armory with Maj. Calero's car safely secured in the trailer, Sfc. Diaz saluted them. Carol and Sgt. Falorni were both profoundly humbled by the magnitude of the project they were about to undertake.

Maj. Calero's Mustang was delivered to Sgt. Falorni's home in Methuen, where the initial prep work was started. A planning meeting was quickly organized and plans were laid out with the help of Ed Yessaian to coordinate the work to be done on the car.

To help promote the project, the team leaders, Sgt. Falorni, Ed Yessaian and Carol Meyer decided to enter the car as a display at the Town Fair Tire World of Wheels car show, that is being held January 9-11th at the Bayside Expo Center in Boston. The Mustang, in its unrestored condition, and the team will be on hand along with members of Maj. Calero's unit to talk about the project and honor Maj. Calero for his service to his country. They will be selling t-shirts and wrist bands to help raise funds for the completion of the project.

Donations are also being accepted thru Citizen’s Bank. Checks can be made payable to Project Fallen Hero. All proceeds will go to the restoration of the car. Any remaining funds will be given to the Maj. Jeff Calero Scholarship Fund.


http://www.projectfallenhero.com/

[Bluedragon436]

That is an awesome project!! I have thought about a similar project, and I think it is awesome to see people that are willing to put so much dedication into something great like this!!

[project_fallen_hero]

Thanks everyone it's nice to see that Maj. Calero's mustang is going world wide I've done a lot of planning and this is going to be the best project ever....the car is going to be at the World of Wheels in Boston, MA. and next sat were gonna take it back to the shop and yank the engine and transmission.

thanks again for introducing me to this site it blends everything I do

this is how I found Major Jeff Calero's car



this is what it looks like today



big difference....but its just the beginning

fabio

[Bluedragon436]

It is already looking loads better, and I am glad that it was able to be saved from what I am sure would have been a bad fate!! I can't wait to see the progress of this vehicle!!

[project_fallen_hero]

the battalion commander wanted to scrap it he said it looked like an eyesore i found it just in time

fabio

[Bluedragon436]

wow... it looks like it needed some love, but no where near an eyesore!! I am glad that you were able to find it and save it in time!!

[bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by project_fallen_hero

the battalion commander wanted to scrap it he said it looked like an eyesore i found it just in time

fabio

sigh

b.c.s are all about appearances.

[Sir Charles]

Fabio,


You and your team are doing a great thing by Honoring one of our Fallen.

[Zoldier]

Thats badass.

[Sir Charles]

It really touches you in the heart and soul when people will reach out to someone they don't know to honor them like this.