Mustang lovers honor fallen Queens hero

Major Jeffrey Calero of Queens Village had many loves in his life including his family, girlfriend, fellow soldiers and country. When he lost his life serving in Afghanistan in October of 2007, Calero left all of those behind as well as another prized possession - his 1988 Mustang.
Nearly one year later in October 2008, Massachusetts National Guard Sergeant Fabio Falorni spotted Calero’s mustang inside a fenced area in Massachusetts near where Calero served. Being a mustang enthusiast himself, Falorni contacted one of Calero’s fellow service members who told him about Calero’s fondness for the car and plans to fix the car up when he returned from active duty.
“On my ride home, I thought it would be a really nice thing to do to fix up the car and give it back to the family,” said Falorni, who has served two tours of duty in Iraq himself.
Falorni received permission from Calero’s family and the Commander of his unit to take the car from its spot, and he quickly organized a group of mustang lovers that is now working to restore Calero’s mustang in the fallen Major’s honor.
“I think anyone who sheds blood for our country should be honored,” Falorni said. “This is the least I can do for Jeff. I wish I could have met him in person.”
During the weekend of January 10, Falorni and other team members including Carol Meyer, who is responsible for the car’s engine and transmission, and Ed Yessaian, in charge of the bodywork, attended the Town Fair Tire World of Wheels car show in Boston, MA.
At the show, which draws crowds of more than 10,000 people, the team had a booth with information about their undertaking called the Project Fallen Hero. The group set up an account through Citizen’s Bank, and they are soliciting donations to offset the cost of restoring the car, with any additional money going to the Major Jeffrey Calero scholarship fund.
While the mustang currently runs, the group has extensive restoration plans that include replacing almost everything on the car and putting Calero’s unit insignia on the headrest. In addition, Meyer hopes to have the car ready to do a ceremonial lap following the National Anthem at a New England Dragway in honor of Calero in April.
Then, later this summer, the Project Fallen Hero team hopes to turn over the restored mustang to Calero’s family at a ceremony with other military members who served with Calero.
“I know it will be a little overwhelming for the family,” Falorni said.
Calero attended St. Francis Preparatory High School and after graduating college, he was commissioned as an Infantry 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Calero received numerous awards for his service, which included airborne training and service as an Army Ranger before he joined the Special Forces.
After six years of active duty, which culminated in him receiving the coveted “Green Beret,” a distinction that members of the Army’s Special Forces unit receive, Calero joined the Army’s National Guard.
To view more information about Project Fallen Hero or find out how to donate, visit www.projectfallenhero.com