Velez Family Receives Their New Home & Operation Finally Home Celebrates 200th Dedication
By Sheena Beaver, CAPS, CGP, CGA, CSP
Dallas Builders Association Operations Officer
Due to the ongoing support from members of the Dallas Builders Association, the City of Irving and Winston Custom Homes, another deserving veteran has realized the dream of home ownership.
Dedication ceremonies were held July 26 for U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class Luisa Velez and her son Spencer.
This project is the eighth home the Dallas Builders Association has been honored to assist in providing. Thank you to all the vendors, suppliers and trades who liberally donated their materials, time and talent.
The Velez family was escorted to their mortgage-free, custom-built home by the City of Irving Police Department and Patriot Guard Riders, where they were welcomed home by officials and community members.
A crowd of approximately 100 braved the warm weather to welcome the family home and invite them to the area.
Dallas BA Executive Officer Phil Crone emceed the dedication. “The emotions shared by Corpsman Velez and Spencer during the dedication exemplified the journey they’ve been on together and were shared by everyone in attendance who contributed to this happy chapter of their lives,” he stated. “It is incredible that Operation Finally Home has now done this for 200 deserving veterans and is poised to do the same for many more. The Dallas BA is honored to be a small part of their mission to provide the American dream to those who sacrificed so much to preserve and protect our ability to do so.”
Following the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremonies, Velez received the keys to her new home.
The veteran has been recognized with a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Presidential Unity Citation, National Defense Service Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, among other accolades.
The dedication was an exciting milestone for Operation Finally Home, marking the 200th home the nonprofit has provided for America’s heroes, through the generosity of donors and the help of partners. To celebrate, a neighborhood welcome home party for key supporters, recipients and the Irving community followed the Velez Dedication Ceremony.
“It is an honor to welcome U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class Luisa Velez and her family to their new home,” said OPFH President Rusty Carroll. “Every home we build for a veteran, first responder or their family is an honor and a blessing, but as our 200th build, this project holds special significance. We are committed to the work of giving America’s heroes a place to come home to long into the future.”
Velez was initially surprised with the news that she would be receiving a mortgage-free, custom-built home last November. She and her son Spencer thought they were meeting with representatives from Operation Finally Home and Winston Custom Homes as part of a preliminary interview process. During a drive around the neighborhood, the Patriot Guard Riders intercepted the family and escorted them to the homesite for a special groundbreaking ceremony.
The Velez family was overjoyed when they learned that they had been selected to receive the home in Irving. A Notes of Love event, during which officials and community members left encouraging notes on the studs of the Velez family’s unfinished home, was held on Feb. 14..
Since that time, the family has not seen the progression of the build in order to allow Operation Finally Home to unveil it for them at the July dedication event. The surprise and gratitude on the family’s face was an exciting moment, especially when they realized Nebraska Furniture Mart had filled the home with furnishings and an anonymous member provided interior decorating.
The Dallas BA is beginning to look ahead to project No. 9. Please look for details in the upcoming months. Contact Sheena.Beaver@dallasbuilders.com if you are interested in participating.
