Injured military veteran to get new home in Grand Hampton
NEW TAMPA - With the turn of a shovel of dirt, a new phase of Army Sgt. Joel Tavera's life began.
Ground was broken March 25 for a home in the Grand Hampton community for the severely injured Iraq war veteran who turned 24 the day before the ceremony.
The $325,000 home, with special modifications, was made possible through the nonprofit BuildingHomesforHeroes.org, founded by Andrew Pujol along with contributions from the builder, William Ryan Homes, and local firefighters, contractors and others.
"This is a private, gated community," Tavera said to about 100 supporters gathered onsite for the ceremony, which included former New York City police officer Daniel Rodriguez, who sang "God Bless America."
"Who would have thought that they would have gotten me a home here," he said to guests. They included doctors who treated him, military officers, representatives of the builder, firefighters, two other house recipients and even two therapy dogs Tavera had hugged during recovery.
In March 2008, Tavera's Humvee was hit by five rockets and he was blinded. He also lost his right leg, four fingers on his left hand and suffered serious head trauma and burns to 60 percent of his body.
His parents, Jose and Maritza Tavera, were told that Joel is the second-most severely injured Army soldier to survive since the war in Iraq began.
He spent 81 days in a coma and two years recovering – including 60 surgeries. In recent months, he has been making appearances and has completed two 5-kilometer races.
Through it all, his parents have been at his side. They will have a room in the home, which is being equipped with 3-foot-wide doors, extra-wide corridors and a whirlpool bath.
The goal for completion is July 4th, Andy Pujol, president ofBuildingHomesforHeroes.org, told guests at the ceremony.
The nonprofit was started by Andrew Pujol, who was in the first wave of search and rescue teams at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
The organization has built nine homes and plans to build a 10th in Orange County later this year. It gets donations from numerous individuals and encourages small groups to have fundraisers for the cause.
After the ceremony for Tavera a fundraiser was held in Tampa at The Kennedy nightclub and at a golf tournament the following day.
"With the right financial support we could build 100 homes," Pujol said.
But March 25 belonged to Tavera.
"This is going to be the birthday gift that never stops giving," Pujol said.
By LENORA LAKE | Tribune correspondent
Published: April 6, 2011 |
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