MARSHALL, Texas (KETK) – In 2015, Joseph Hammers left the United States Marine Corps after eight years of service, and on Wednesday he was welcomed home.
“Been a very, very blessed, blessed day,” Hammers said.
Hammers dreamed of finding a place he could be close to his daughters. Now that dream has become a reality thanks to a national non-profit.
Building Homes for Heroes’ mission is to help veterans and first responders find a place to call home free of charge.
Director of construction Rusty Smallwood says the stories are different, but the feeling of handing the keys over is always the same.
“It can be a forever home and provide them a place to continue to grow with their family, settle with their family, and for the biggest part heal,” Smallwood said.
Hammers and his family were met with cheers as they got the first look at their new home.
“That is very heartfelt and very appreciative, with the weather and everything that was going on, I didn’t expect that, I didn’t expect that many people to be out as well,” Hammers said.
Hammers isn’t the only veteran receiving a free home in Marshall. On Friday, an army sergeant and his family will also be getting the keys to their new place.
