CRESTVIEW — Homes For Our Troops will soon begin building a custom house for Army veteran Vicente Ramirez.
A kickoff celebration is scheduled Feb. 16 in Crestview.
In 2006 Ramirez lost his left leg and was severely injured in his right leg by two improvised explosive devices in Iraq.
"Having a house would take a huge burden off my daily living and the issues that bring the pain," Ramirez said in the nonprofit's video.
One source of pain is the lack of wheelchair access in his family's home in Baker. Vicente, who goes by Vince, has difficulty standing for long periods of time. Without his wheelchair, he has to stand a lot.
He said the new home will have an open floor plan and other necessities designed to accommodate him and make daily tasks easier.
Ramirez and his wife, Becky, also a disabled Army veteran, have two sons. Cade just turned 3 and Ison is 6. The new home will make it easier to do simple things with them, he said.
The couple decided to build in Florida because it is near both their families.
Ramirez expressed his gratitude to supporters. Their gift is "allowing him to rebuild his life," the release stated.
"These homes not only help soldiers, but most importantly, these homes help veterans be more productive individuals to family and friends," he said.
"Our homes include more than 40 special adaptations such as widened doorways for wheelchair access, a roll-in shower, and kitchen amenities that include pull-down shelving and lowered countertops," said Teresa Verity, Homes For Our Troops' marketing associate. "The home will also alleviate the mobility and safety issues associated with a traditional home, including navigating a wheelchair through narrow hallways or over thresholds or reaching for cabinets that are too high."
Be a post-Sept. 11, 2001, veteran injured in the theater of the Iraq-Afghanistan war. Be retired or in the process of retiring from military service. Have received a letter of eligibility for the Veterans Affairs Specially Adapted Housing Grant program Have the Homes For Our Troops house as his or her primary residence. Accept the responsibility of home ownership and have the resources to maintain a home (ongoing maintenance and upkeep, property taxes, home insurance, utilities, etc.).
Visit www.hfotusa.org/building-homes/veterans/ramirez/ for more information about the Ramirezes and to RSVP for the Feb. 16 kickoff celebration.
Verity said Homes For Our Troops also will build a house for Army Spc. Elliott Smith of Pensacola. Visit www.hfotusa.org/esmith for details.