X-Post: Project "Fallen Hero"

luv2hiss

Transplanted again...
Established Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2005
Messages
348
Location
Fogelsville, PA
MODS - please sticky this thread...thank you !!

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. Falorni 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, whose autobody restoration experience was tapped to help 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 with any remaining funds to be given to the Maj. Jeff Calero Scholarship Fund.

We are also accepting parts donations for the project as well as looking for additional volunteers to help us complete the project. If you are able and can spare your time and expertise, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us thru our website at:

www.projectfallenhero.com

You can also monitor the progress of the car on our site. It will be updated on a regular basis as we work on the car and complete tasks. We will also have photos from the World of Wheels posted after the show. We hope to see you all there !!!
 
Last edited:

luv2hiss

Transplanted again...
Established Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2005
Messages
348
Location
Fogelsville, PA
Great news...the Tewskbury Advocate ran our press release in Saturday's paper. The Queens Courier from LI, where Maj. Calero is from is running mulitiple stories on the project for us as well. If you see any articles in your local papers, please let me know.

Thanks !!!
 

LILBLKSNAKE

Village Idiot
Established Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2005
Messages
1,566
Location
With a very patient woman
For those of you who didn't already know, I'm the ED in that article.

We will have lots of pics after this weekend.

I can't wait to use my shiny new paint gun!!
 

98 svt

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
May 16, 2005
Messages
23,960
Location
Massachoooosetts
A few pics from the W.O.W. on Saturday...


IM000207.gif


IM000205.gif


IM000206.gif


IM000208.gif


IM000209.gif


IM000211.gif


IM000212.gif


IM000213.gif


IM000214.gif


IM000215.gif


IM000217.gif


IM000189.gif
 

BADASS03SVT

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2003
Messages
13,026
Location
MA
thats awesome guys! are you restoring it to oringinal factory specs/colors?
 

luv2hiss

Transplanted again...
Established Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2005
Messages
348
Location
Fogelsville, PA
Basically yes, there will be a few custom touches but nothing outrageous. It will be repainted black with the red accent strip on the trim/moldings. Engine wise its getting a new motor, rebuilt tranny, new interior and all new suspension, lines, hoses, etc...

We are in need of a drivers side door and rear hatch. If anyone has those around and would be willing to donate them, please contact us at:

[email protected]

Thanks,

Carol
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top