Boot Campaign Surprises Purple Heart Veteran with Mortgage-Free Home
Home awarded through Military Warriors Support Foundation’s Homes 4 Wounded Heroes Program
Dallas, TX (July 25, 2012) – Purple Heart Recipient and Retired Army Specialist Jeremy Smith, and his fiancé Sarah Light, will soon move into a mortgage-free home in Fort Worth, TX. The new home is thanks to The Boot Campaign and its donation to the Military Warriors Support Foundation’s Homes 4 Wounded Heroes Program. The surprise home presentation took place Monday, July 23rd in front of a cheering crowd at Dallas Love Field Airport.
“The Boot Girls are humbled to make the dream of home ownership come true for such a well-deserving wounded veteran. It is our sincere wish that this home will provide Jeremy and his fiancé with special memories for many years to come. We are grateful to those Americans who have laced up a pair of our give back combat boots in order to make this home giveaway possible.” – Sherri Reuland, Executive Director of The Boot Campaign
Jeremy and Sarah were onboard a Southwest Airlines flight featuring a surprise performance by country music star Jack Ingram. When the flight landed at Dallas Love Field, the couple was honored with a water canon salute over their plane. At the gate, Jeremy was treated to a heroes welcome and then received the surprise of his life. Sherri Reuland, Executive Direcor of The Boot Campaign, and General Leroy Sisco, CEO of Military Warriors Support Foundation, awarded Jeremy and Sarah with a mortgage-free home located in Fort Worth, TX. As the cheers erupted, Southwest Airlines made yet another heart-warming announcement—the engaged couple would receive two round-trip tickets for their honeymoon
“We were so surprised! The way everything was planned was perfect! We thank God first for all this, but we also want to thank the Military Warrior Support Foundation, The Boot Campaign, Southwest Airlines, General Sisco, Jack Ingram, and anyone else that was involved. This is such a blessing and we are truly grateful!!” – Jeremy Smith and Sarah Light, Home Recipients
Motivated by the events of September 11th, 2001, Smith joined the U.S. Army in 2007 at age 17 and received specialized scout reconnaissance training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2008. While on patrol on May 31st of that year, Smith’s group was ambushed. The vehicle containing Smith was blown up by an improvised explosive device (IED). Smith, who continues to undergo rehabilitation for his injuries, plans to enroll in school in the fall.
Jeremy and Sarah are receiving a 1,796 sq. ft. one-story, single family home built in 2004. The home features three bedrooms, 2 bath ooms and a two car garage and is in Fort Worth, TX. This is the fourth home that the Boot Campaign has sponsored with the MWSF Homes 4 Wounded Heroes program. The Boot Campaign has sponsored homes for wounded veterans in San Antonio, TX, Chicago, IL, Las Vegas, NV and Fort Worth, TX.
“With support from our sponsors and donors, the Military Warriors Support Foundation can help America’s heroes and their families make a fresh start in homes of their own,” said retired Army Lt. Gen. Leroy Sisco, MWSF Founder and CEO. “Veterans who sustained severe injuries while serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve more than our thanks. That’s why we provide homes and mentoring to help the transition to civilian life.”
The Boot Campaign would like to thank Chase Bank, Fairway Independent Mortgage and Southwest Airlines for making Jeremy Smith’s home presentation possible. To apply for a home through the Homes 4 Wounded Heroes program, visit www.militarywarriors.org
