Injured in Afghanistan, Purple Heart Veteran Gets New Home

LAND O' LAKES, FL - A homecoming reception was held for a Purple Heart veteran on Saturday as he was gifted a mortgage-free home in Land O' Lakes by Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit organization that builds and modifies homes for wounded veterans and their families. Army Master Sgt. George Vera, his wife, Angela; and their 11-year-old daughter, Isabella, toured their new Land O'Lakes home for the first time during Saturday's celebration.

Vera joined the military in 1995 his family's legacy of serving in the military. Vera was shot in 2015 when his base in Afghanistan came under attack from an improvised explosive device hidden in a vehicle driven by suicide bombers. During his efforts to pull fellow wounded soldiers away from the enemy fire, Vera was shot. He suffered a spinal cord injury and a traumatic brain injury. Due to numerous injuries, Vera is now confined to a wheelchair. His home has been modified to fit his needs.

More than 15 AT&T employees -- from Tampa, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Melbourne and Stuart - were there to help welcome Vera and his family, along with dozens of community members. AT&T volunteers set up nearly 200 American flags along the Vera family's new street, decorated for the holidays inside the home and hosted a barbeque after the ceremony.

The AT&T employees are members of AT&T Veterans, an employee group that supports AT&T's employees who are veterans along with veterans in the community.

Sherry Simon, president of AT&T Veterans Florida, said members were happy to help with the homecoming ceremony. "We are grateful to have this opportunity to honor Army Master Sergeant Vera for his service and sacrifice, present him and his beautiful family with a housewarming gift and offer them a warm welcome to the Land O'Lakes community," she said.

Building Homes for Heroes has given homes and new opportunities to more than 100 families across the nation.

Photos via AT&T