A military veteran and his family received the keys to their new mortgage-free home in Conway, Arkansas last week.
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Cory Hixon and his family were recognized on stage during the Southern Living Home Summit, where they were surprised with the announcement of their new custom-built home. Custom Military Gold Medal
The opportunity was made possible through Operation Finally Home, a nonprofit organization based in New Braunfels, Texas, that provides custom-built, mortgage-free homes for veterans, first responders and their families.
Operation Finally Home partnered with the Little-Rock-based builder Bret Franks of Bret Franks Construction, as well as the Southern Living Custom Builder Program, to relocate Corporal Hixson and his family from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Conway, Arkansas.
A symbolic key was presented to the family during the Summit by Rusty Carroll, Executive Director of Operation Finally Home, Bret and Beth Franks, with Bret Franks Construction, and Sid Evans and Deirdre Finnegan from Southern Living.
Representatives from the organizations as well as friends, family members, and new neighbors lined the driveway to welcome the Hixson family home, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“I don’t think thank you is enough, I can’t articulate enough words to express what it means to me and what it’s going to do for my family, I’m okay it’s all about my wife and kids,” Hixson said.
Hixson was deployed to Iraq in October 2004, and was critically injured during his 2nd tour while conducting a resupply. A blast of shrapnel striking his upper torso and face resulted in an emergency surgery to enucleate his left eye.
“Cory was awarded a Purple Heart, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, and more,” Operation Finally Home’s website states.
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