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Building Homes for Heroes, Part 1

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  • Description

    Organization constructs new house for disabled vet Sgt. Joel Tavera

  • Duration 7:26
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Welcome back now the holidays are often a time -- we realize how important family friends and community are -- lives.

And one man who knows that more than anyone else this year is army sergeant jolt of -- now our own Ainsley Earhardt traveled to Florida to get this amazing.

Amazing story.

The early morning of march 12 2008 started out like any other until -- air base in southern Iraq.

Two days away from returning home to the states sergeant jolts of -- volunteered.

To join some other soldiers and pulling last minute guard duty.

About 300 meters in front of me was vehicle that sergeant Tamara and the other army soldiers were riding -- -- -- People.

Exploded spun around a couple times and -- time I got up there sergeant Cabrera.

Was right next -- the vehicle and vehicle was.

Captain Lombardo quickly pulled away from the wreckage he was completely -- plays for exposure.

He was making noises so I knew he was alive but just barely.

He had combinations of severe head injury he had severe burns throughout his body he's had amputations.

He's had multiple neurological.

Problems.

I came from work.

And I -- -- waiting for me and man found a lot.

And and you say I had to -- something.

Are you -- in.

-- who had a tough in humidity.

Or his mother's sense she says.

And soil icing on don't -- -- nothing happened to my son say yes and -- Linked to an old -- you.

It's right.

How do you tell your wife -- your babies that you held at one place -- that was how to guard from the ten hour.

-- was in a -- with injuries and burns so severe that nobody expected him to survive.

Many people -- he has probably most serious -- Or this person was not supposed to live they caught me phone.

-- And they say and I do some innovative creative called I don't think so they can make -- America.

And I donated.

He's gotten.

As God's got I promise if you keep him that are -- I think here.

After 81 days in a coma -- -- -- Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas.

Nowhere Michael -- and look to.

I you know.

He had lost a lag in his eyes.

Fingers on one hand -- suffered a traumatic brain injury and was burned on more than 60%.

Of his body.

His parents -- their lives on hold.

To be with their -- is he learned to walk in speak again.

And injuring dozens and dozens of surgeries.

And with their support he began his unbelievable recovery.

-- went from not even walked into.

He's a walking talking and running around dancing salsa dancing and everything.

And then about two years ago -- that indeed true -- Who had been through a life changing experience of his own clean ran to the world trade center on nine elevenths to help with the search -- I lost three friends on that day -- and made a promise to them.

-- -- do something for my country it's different.

So -- and he started a charity called building homes for heroes.

And that is exactly what they do building mortgage free homes.

For severely injured soldiers.

He asked -- what you want to know what.

I mean I think gated community.

I'd like to have -- So Andy his 3000 volunteers and William Ryan homes got to work.

This is our groundbreaking ceremony.

For the ninth.

Home building homes for heroes and from the first scoop of dirt to the last coat of paint -- they didn't stop.

-- took -- five months to build this home from beginning to end so working constantly working -- oh yeah every day.

You know we don't listen -- -- us veterans day is 365.

Season.

The result is a brand new home especially designed for -- and his injuries this health as well.

Built inside my thank -- fill five once we started -- here go racing.

4200 square and it's beautiful.

We arrived the day before Indian descent to hand over the keys you.

You're still doing some finishing touches eleven that'll work but -- to battle.

So he has coolest heated pool jacuzzi it's actually a special salt water comedy -- to the game.

And -- it has therapeutic kept his goofy.

And is back in the backyard your enjoyment.

After 75 surgeries in four years of medical care Sargent -- -- -- is finally able to walk out of this hospital.

And go to a place he can call home.

And along with that a true hero's homecoming.

From the doors of the hospital -- and his parents are met by a caravan of police officers fire trucks military vehicles and veterans.

Leading the way through Tampa street as they are cheered on by members of the community.

Bagpipers his fourth in through his new neighborhood where more than a thousand members of the community -- wait.

Farther until they're.

-- the host they have Richardson Aaron the premise the most loving parents I've ever known.

-- to me and many here today.

-- to a nation something the US today.

Welcome homes and.

Huge crowds are no surprise to anyone in his general.

Any impact he has -- every when he -- There is no finer example.

Courage.

And commitment and selfless service and dedication.

He's got an unbelievable spirit.

He's got a smile on his face she loves life when you see the real people like -- and what they've gone through.

I mean it's.

Mean how can you not want to do whatever you possibly can help them back for.

I guess lessons on the house and then they don't do anything life.

He's sharp he's articulate he's funny you know and how blessed we just got banged up bad on the outside but inside he's still the same guy here aliens -- -- -- to a -- open.

I don't really get that it's it's kind of an excellent job and I heard.

It's wrong.

I've never met me and for a year now.

I've never one time heard him complain about anything.

Nothing I don't know that I would be the man he.

Doubt they don't like cool stuff because -- -- them they have my bad days.

-- if you have that well we're all human and I'm not perfect no one's perfect.

He takes -- everything.

This month.

Everywhere in the country.

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