Across the United States, a heartwarming initiative is currently in progress to honor and provide support to veterans who have returned from the Middle East with severe injuries. This is to provide them with mortgage-free homes as a measure to show the country’s extreme gratitude and give them the recognition they deserve for their monumental sacrifice.
In the rather serene town of DeForest, Wisconsin, one particular story of medically-retired former Sergeant Tory Honda received such a gift when he and his family were handed the keys to their brand-new, mortgage-free home. As they toured the house, they were incredibly emotional, and every feeling was captured on television. He and his wife, Marsela, were completely overwhelmed with emotion as they walked through the house.
This heartwarming journey commenced back in March when an exception coalition emerged, comprising Operation Finally Home, Tim O’Brien Homes, and the Structural Building Components Association.
Together, they pooled their efforts and resources to secure a new home for the Honda family within the picturesque Bear Tree Farms area of DeForest. The collaboration exemplified the profound appreciation that the community held for the sacrifices made by veterans like Sergeant Tory Honda.
After cutting the ribbon in front of the house, he told Channel 3000, “It means so much to me. Perspective? I can’t even put that into words. I’m just grateful, and I hope I deserve every bit of it. I feel like I don’t, but I really hope I do. I hope I can live up to the standards that everybody looks forward to,”
But that’s not where the story ends. In fact, in another corner of the nation, retired Army Sergeant Shane Parsons, a soldier who suffered even greater misfortune found himself at the center of an even more remarkable display of support and gratitude.
Parsons, who happens to be confined to a wheelchair after losing both his legs and enduring a traumatic brain injury during his dedicated service, also dealt with difficult challenges on his road to recovery. However, the Gary Sinise Foundation emerged as a beacon of hope for this veteran and his family.
Located in Plain City, in central Ohio, the Gary Sinise Foundation undertook the monumental task of constructing a state-of-the-art, 100% accessible home for Parsons, his wife Jennifer, and their two sons, Owen and Emmett.
The exception gift extended beyond the provision of shelter. It provided them with the comfort and independence that Parsons truly deserved. This new home gave him a semblance of normalcy in his life, an aspiration that had seemed distant in the face of the adversity he had encountered due to his injuries.
Jennifer shared, “In the living situations we’ve had, he could only really live through 70 to 80% of the house, it was about as much as he could access.”
She added that this new home is all built specifically for him, explaining, “Even though he’s already a wonderful dad, it’s going to allow him to be more hands-on, be able to participate more where before he wasn’t able to.”
The commitment shown by the Gary Sinise Foundation to provide mortgage-free homes to veterans who have suffered physical disabilities in various forms is nothing short of extraordinary. The foundation has already provided this life-altering opportunity to 80 deserving veterans, and they have no plans to stop any time soon.
“It’s surreal, I can’t believe I’m actually in my own home “I keep thinking that I’m in somebody else’s house,” Parsons told WCMH.
While the process of identifying and supporting these veterans may not unfold swiftly, the rewards are immeasurable. These homes offer more than just a roof overhead, they provide an opportunity for these brave soldiers and their families to reconstruct their lives, regain their independence, and embrace a future filled with hope and promise.
See more about the incredible story of Sergeant Tory Honda in the video below.
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