With each sunrise and sunset, Sgt. Leonid Milkin will look out at the Pacific Sunset Maples in his yard and think of his family, gone too soon.

More than 100 volunteers gathered at Milkin’s Kirkland home on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, to pay a tribute to the veteran whose wife, two boys and sister-in-law were murdered in 2006 while he was serving in Iraq. The group planted two sets of four trees in his front and side yard – each tree honoring his four family members.

“It’s very beautiful,” Milkin said, pointing to the cluster of trees on the side of his house, “These are going to be for sunrise and the four trees (in the front) are going to be for sunset.”

Milkin’s wife, Olga, 28; sons Justin, 5 and Andrew, 3; and sister-in-law, Lyubov Botvina, 24, were stabbed to death by Conner Schierman. Schierman, a neighbor, set the home on fire after claiming he woke up from an alcoholic blackout. Schierman was found guilty of the murders in April and was sentenced to death.

Throughout the day Thursday, volunteers – young and old, active and retired veterans and others – helped rebuild Milkin’s home.

Local work crews – including CDK Construction Services, JP Landscape, Alpine Land Care Inc. and Northwest Window Coverings – worked alongside of community members to finish the landscaping.

A retired Navy Seabee, Joe Cantwell of CDK Construction said he remembers watching Milkin’s house burn four years ago from across the bridge.

“We’re donating our time on Veteran’s Day to make this dream come true and it’s a dream that Sgt. Milkin has of rebuilding his life and carrying on, which we’re going to help him do,” said Cantwell.

During the event, Milkin’s father, Pavel, took a moment to look out at all the volunteers hauling bricks, shoveling dirt and doing landscaping work in front of the house.

“Even I don’t have any words,” said Pavel, putting his hands on his head. “Thank you very much for everybody – for everybody. Thank you, God.”

Milkin said he is overwhelmed by the community’s support.

“I’m just dedicating this to my family,” he said, adding, “I was surprised that this would even happen, but then it became clear to me that that’s how Americans would respond to any tragedy. This is just amazing.”

Project coordinator, Michelle Yousef, said the community outpouring since the beginning of the project 10 months ago has been “incredible.”

“People that just heard about it came out today and said, ‘how can I help?’”

Donations are still needed for the final phase of the project, which includes rebuilding the two-car detached garage. To make a donation, visit the Milkin House Facebook page.