Tunnel to Towers Foundation Purchases and Renovates New Home for Injured Navy and Army Veteran

Navy Airman and Army Sergeant Roger Lange was injured on March 21, 2011

COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE [August 5, 2025] – In a private ceremony, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation welcomed home U.S. Navy Airman E-3 and Army Sergeant E-5 Roger Lange into his new mortgage-free smart home in Columbia, Tennessee. The family saw the house for the first time on Friday. 

“This new home will open up a whole new level of independence for Roger – it is the forever home that will continue to give back and meet his ongoing specific needs,” said DonnaLynn Pellegrini-Lange.

SGT Lange joined the Navy in 1983, following in the footsteps of his father, whom he idolized for his service.

SGT Lange enlisted in the Army in 2001, demonstrating his continued love for serving his country and taking on challenging jobs. He was deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Iraqi Freedom and to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. 

On March 21, 2011, while deployed to Afghanistan, SGT Lange’s military vehicle hit an improvised explosive device, causing a traumatic brain injury. He was later diagnosed with Toxic Parkinson’s Disease from the chemical exposure he endured as a tanker in the Army. SGT Lange also has severe PTSD and tinnitus, which is a constant ringing sound in his ears.

SGT Lange and DonnaLynn, his wife of 25 years, chose Columbia due to its proximity to Vanderbilt Hospital for SGT Lange’s medical needs. With a large military community behind them, the couple knew that Tennessee would be the perfect place for their next chapter. 

“I always try to remember my fallen brothers and sisters and keep their legacies alive, along with supporting their families,” said SGT Roger Lange.

The Tunnel to Towers Smart Home Program builds specially-adapted, mortgage-free smart homes or renovates existing homes to help our most catastrophically injured veterans and first responders reclaim their day-to-day independence.The renovations on the Lange home included remodeling the master bathroom to make it ADA accessible, adding a ramp to the front of the house, and replacing all the carpet with vinyl plank flooring throughout. All Tunnel to Towers smart homes are custom-fitted with innovative technology, enabling users to remotely control the thermostat, lights, sound system, and security system via a dedicated app. A generator is also installed in each smart home to ensure the families are never without power.