Congratulations go out to former Marine Sgt. Christopher Lawrence and former Army Sgt. Quincy Lopez, who have now received the keys to their respective Homes for our Troops (HFOT)-provided homes, located in different parts of Wesley Chapel.
Both severely injured veterans lost their respective right legs to improvised explosive device (IED) blasts while serving in Iraq and both chose Wesley Chapel for their new HFOT homes, both custom-designed by Kent Custom Homes.
They both also were honored at a dual ceremony that began at Sgt. Lawrence and his familyโs new home on Steeplechase Rd. and continued at Sgt. Lopez and his son Warrenโs new home on Country Club Rd. Both injured vets took down the HFOT flag they raised during their respective โVolunteer Dayโ events a few weeks earlier and raised American flags at the end of their respective Key Ceremonies. And, both expressed tremendous gratitude to HFOT, Kent Custom Homes, all of the volunteers who helped lay the sod and plant the plants at their new homes and, of course, to their families.
Among the speakers preceding Sgt. Lawrenceโs Key Ceremony were community engagement coordinator Jocelyn Phipps and executive director Bill Ivey of HFOT, which (as weโve previously reported) is a 501(c)(3) military nonprofit that puts roughly 90 cents of every dollar it raises into building specially-designed homes for severely wounded soldiers who served after 9/11 โ and that number is now up to 419 homes and still going. But, in addition to Sgt. Lawrence himself, the speaker who made sure no one in attendance had a dry eye was Sgt. Lawrenceโs sister, Tameka.
โIt was no surprise when, right out of high school in 2005, Chris proudly joined the U.S. Marine Corps,โ Tameka said. โHe would always call me to say โI am safeโ and update me on where he was going. Then, on August 17, 2007, came the call that no family wants to hear โ that Chris was being airlifted back home withย life-threatening injuries. But, in his true spirit, he ended up coming back stronger and more determined than ever. Today, as we step into this beautiful new home, we are stepping into a space that represents healing, hope, honor and independence. This is a place where he will live with his family, where laughter will echo through the halls, where his family and friends will gather memories for years to come. On behalf of the Lawrence family, thank you from the bottom of my heart, to Homes for our Troops, for recognizing Sgt. Christopher Lawrence, his sacrifice, his service and his future. You have not only built walls and a roof, you have built a legacy of respect. Thank you all. I love you.โย
Not to be outdone, Chris said, โThis day โ September 6 โ is a day of celebration, but itโs also [the anniversary of] one of the saddest days of my life. It was the day that I lost my crew, my team, so I have to acknowledge that. Iโm a stubborn guy. After I got injured, they said, โYou probably wonโt be able to walk and you absolutely wonโt be able to run.โ Now I run every chance I get and walk anywhere I can.โ
He added, โI was trying to find a purpose and decided to try to become a police officer. I put myself through the Police Academy, got turned down by a lot of departments until I was given an opportunity by a phenomenal academy and police department in Chula Vista, CA. I served there eight years before I realized that police work was probably not the right choice for someone with no toes. I also realized that stairs were not my friend and a friend of mine, a fellow Corpsman who also had a prosthesis, got a home from Homes for our Troops and I saw that he could get around and be a part of his family all the time. And that really motivated me to apply. And now, I know that this house is meant for me and my family to be in forever. So, thanks to Homes for our Troops and to all of you for being here today.โ
Sgt. Lawrence then got to raise the American flag at his new home (above right photo).ย
On To Sgt. Lopezโs House
Although both Sgt. Lawrence and Sgt. Lopez were honored at the first ceremony at Sgt. Lawrenceโs house, the dual โKey Ceremonyโ event continued a short time later that same day at Sgt. Lopezโs new HFOT home on Country Club Rd., which also was custom-designed by Kent Custom Homes.
At Sgt. Lopezโs ceremony, HFOT community engagement coordinator Krystina Goroshko first introduced Sgt. Lopezโs friend โ and fellow HFOT home recipient โ former Army Staff Sgt. Chris Gordon, who received his home in Groveland in Lake County, FL, in 2018.
โI thought the house I got was pretty magnificent,โ Staff Sgt. Gordon said, โbut Iโll admit that Iโm a little bit jealous of Quincyโs house. Not only does it have a lot of new features that mine doesnโt, this Wesley Chapel community is amazing!โ
Staff Sgt. Gordon also talked about a lotย of the battles wounded soldiers with prosthetic limbs go through, including getting infections at their amputation sites, โbut at least, when we receive these homes from Homes for our Troops, we donโt have to battle to take a shower or fix food in the kitchen anymore.โย
He added, โBut, Quincy and Chris are now part of the [HFOT} family. Iโm really excited to hear about all of the great things you go through in your new home, Quincy.โ
Next up was HFOT president and CEO and retired Army Brigadier General Tom Landwermeyer, who first echoed what Bill Ivey said at the first ceremony:
โYou all could be doing anything you want to do today, but you chose to be here with us, celebrating two veterans of the family. So, thanks for coming. But now, Iโm going to say a few words about Quincy. He was 20 years old and living in New York when 9/11 happened. He decided at that time, as so many others did, even though he was already serving the public as a police officer, to change uniforms and join the military.โ
He added, โI always tell people that the one thing these homes canโt fix is their injuries. Yes, they make it easier for them to live, but they will have those injuries for the rest of their lives. Quincy is a single parent, one of the hardest jobs in the world, but heโs doing it. Heโs a well-educated young man and a teacher and mentor to other veterans. So, Wesley Chapel, you have one of the most dedicated vets we have.โ
Sgt. Lopez said that one of the great things about his new home is that, โIโve suffered a lot of injuries since my service in the bathroom and kitchen. I would have to use my wheelchair to get to the toilet and my walker to get where the toilet was and grab bars to get out of the toilet. But, this home is going to allow me to be a better veteran, a better father and serve my community better. Homes for our Troops isnโt just rebuilding families, youโre giving families back their brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, uncles and aunts. Youโre rebuilding whole communities. I canโt thank you all enough.โ
He also thanked HFOT, โwhich gives 90 cents of every dollar to build these homes. That means the staff is so dedicated to this cause that theyโre willing to sacrifice pay and time just to give back and serve us. I canโt thank all of them enough either.โ
Sgt. Lopez also said that he learned very quickly that โWesley Chapel is awesome. Itโs a great community for my son to grow up in and Weโre so excited to come here to live.โ
To make a donation or for more info about Homes for our Troops, visit HFOTUSA.org. โ GN, all photos by Charmaine Georgeย
