Iraq War veteran and family warmly welcomed to their future hometown–Nokesville

A big crowd of supporters and new friends turned out at the Nokesville Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD) on Saturday, April 18 to welcome Iraq War veteran Sergeant Steven Curry to Nokesville, his future new home.

Homes for Our Troops (HFOT), the organization that is building a house for him and his family, sponsored a community kick-off program at the Marsteller Drive firehouse that was preceded by a motorcade from the Bristow shopping center.

Curry’s Jeep, which arrived at 10:45 a.m. to cheering, flag-waving attendees, was escorted by the entire fleet of NVFD trucks and vehicles, Patriot Guard motorcycle group, Lake Jackson and Stonewall Jackson VFD engines and the Prince William County sheriff’s department.

Chris Mitchell, HFOT’s Deputy Director of Corporate Partnerships and Community Engagement, spoke to this reporter during the set-up.

HFOT, a 501c(3) non-profit organization founded in 2004, builds specially-adapted, mortgage-free homes for veterans with severe combat-related injuries, such as missing limbs, so that they can rebuild their lives. Seventy percent of funding is through private donations; the balance is from corporate partners, such as Kohler, Armstrong, Thompson Creek Windows, CertainTeed.

Said Mitchell, “We build ranch-style, one-level homes with wider hallways, roll-under cabinets and sinks and roll-in showers. We’ve built 185 homes nationwide in 11 years. We build anywhere the vet wants to live. ... Sergeant Curry is a great guy who was injured in Iraq. He now works for the FBI. He lives in the area but wants to be a little in the country. His home should be completed in six to eight months.”

The program included an opening ceremony with a US Coast Guard honor guard and short speeches by HFOT and partners, local officials and an HFOT home recipient before Curry spoke. After the program, Texas Roadhouse Restaurant fed the crowd and Family Dollar donated the supplies.

Local officials who expressed their appreciation of Curry’s service, including his wife Samantha, were Delegate Rich Anderson, VA-51 and Chairman, Military and Veterans Caucus; Corey Stewart, Chairman, Prince William County Board of County Supervisors; and Jeanine Lawson, Brentsville District Supervisor.
 
Other speakers represented the general contractor Potomac Custom Builders and its partners Thompson Creek Windows, Technology Management Associates and Systems Made Simple.

Technology Management Associates presented a check for $7,500 to the Currys, followed by one for $111,000 from Systems Made Simple. During the program, Newport Concrete made a surprise donation of concrete work.

War veteran Michael Martinez was the recipient of a home in Purcellville, in neighboring Loudoun County, in 2012.

The double-amputee (legs) said, “It’s great to see that the Currys already have support. These homes are amazing and it changed my life.”

Ret. Gen. Richard Cody is the HOFT Board of Director Chairman and his speech about the veterans before introducing Curry was both sobering and hopeful.

“There’s a long recovery for the vets and some spend four to five years in the hospital. We still have 10,000 troops in combat today, including 3,000 in Iraq. My oldest son has done seven tours. You all get it but not all of America does. These veterans write a check to America when they raise their right hand. It’s a blank check. You understand that. You should leave here feeling good that saying thank you is not enough. You’re welcoming a great family to be your neighbors.”

Cody said Curry was part of the November 2006 surge and lost part of his left leg and suffered traumatic brain injury. “He’s now going to college and is a great husband and father of two girls.”

When Curry finally rose to speak, he received a long standing ovation and another when he finished. He said he signed up for HFOT with no expectations.

“My family will be forever grateful because this house will have a positive impact on our lives. It makes me happy to be here and we’re going to be here for the long haul.”

For more information on Homes for Our Troops, visit hfotusa.org.