Marshfield native Steve Wojcik gets emotional, as he learns he will be awarded a service dog, through The Fairway Mortgage Corporation’s “American Warrior Initiative”. The surprise announcement was made at the Highground in Neillsville Oct. 1 by the group’s Director Louise Thaxton and Montel Williams, who will feature Wojcik’s story on an upcoming episode of his television series “Military Makeover with Montel.” Todd Schultz photo

By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – A Marshfield native will be featured on a national television program that helps veterans and their families.

Steve Wojcik will be featured in an upcoming episode of the Lifetime Channel series “Military Makeover with Montel Williams.” The crew has been filming segments for the program the past few weeks at the Wojcik residence in Strum just west of Osseo. On Oct. 1, the show followed Wojcik through a special stone ceremony at the Highground Veterans Park in Neillsville as he honored a friend who was killed in action while the two were serving together in Iraq in 2004.

He said:

The serious injuries Wojcik received in the same I-E-D explosion that killed his friend led to his honorable discharge and medical retirement in 2005. After leaving the Marine Corps, Wojcik continued his military service, putting in 16 years in the Army Reserve. His drive to serve others not yet satisfied, he started a career as a trooper with the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Now, the Military Makeover program is joining forces with several other organizations in giving back to Steve and his family, by relieving them of the burden of updating their home, from remodeling their kitchen to bringing their finished basement “into the 21st century.”

Military Makeover has partnered with the Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation’s “American Warrior Initiative.” Louise Thaxton serves as the national director for the program, which gives back to veterans, active duty military, and first responders. In the case of the Wojcik family, Thaxton says they decided to assist in the placement of a service dog.

She said:

After he laid the memory stone in honor of his late friend, Wojcik was surprised with the announcement that he would be getting a service dog, thanks to Fairway’s “American Warrior Initiative,” which partners with Madison-based Custom Canines Academy and its President Nicole Meadowcroft to provide the dog.

She said:

Wojcik recently opened up about his ongoing struggles with PTSD. He also deals with chronic pain, after enduring numerous injuries during his military career, and subsequent shoulder and back surgeries. Steve says he’s passionate about providing his family with a memorable place to live. His wife Terri says she hopes the makeover will put Steven’s mind at ease. The couple has three daughters: 19-year-old Alyca, 16-year-old Amberlee, and 13-year-old Alyson.

The reveal of the home repairs was scheduled for Oct. 2, which will all be caught on camera, for an episode of “Military Makeover” that will air before the end of the year. New episodes of “Military Makeover” air Friday mornings at 6:30 a.m. on Lifetime.