JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 4, 2015 - A wounded Air Force veteran and his family were surprised in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 88,000 fans at a University of Florida football game with the announcement that they will receive a new mortgage-free home from Pulte Homes.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/vDEbjru49ME

SSgt. David R. Veros, Jr., his wife Carolyn, and children Natalie and Trip were honored at one of the biggest rivalry games in the SEC, the Univ. of Georgia vs. Univ. of Florida football game. During a game timeout, Veros and his family were escorted onto the field for the surprise announcement. Unaware of the pending award, Veros was told he was at the game as part of a general tribute to local veterans.

PulteGroup's Built to Honor ™ program, in collaboration with the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, the City of Jacksonville, and Operation FINALLY HOME, planned Saturday afternoon's surprise announcement.

'To see David's expression when he realized he was actually the recipient of a new mortgage-free home was just so emotional for everyone involved,' said Peter Keane, Florida Area President of PulteGroup. PulteGroup's Built to Honor™ program works to donate new homes to injured veterans across the nation. 'The fans in the stands went wild when they heard the news and began chanting U.S.A…U.S.A. We are just so proud to be a part of this wonderful surprise.'

The new home in Pulte Homes' Las Calinas neighborhood in St. Augustine will be customized for the Veros family and completed in early 2016. It will be built by Pulte Homes in collaboration with dozens of local trade contractors and building partners. Veros applied to be considered for a new home with the Operation FINALLY HOME organization that honors wounded, ill and injured veterans and widows of fallen soldiers with new custom-built, mortgage-free homes.

SSgt. Veros joined the U.S. Air Force in January 2004, and was deployed to Iraq a total of six times, each deployment lasting six months. During his sixth deployment, Veros was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). As a result of the incident, he was diagnosed with a series of combat-related injuries.

Over his eight years of military service, Veros earned numerous awards, including a Purple Heart, an Air Force Commendation Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, an Air Force Achievement Medal, an Air Force Combat Action Medal, and a Meritorious Unit Award, among many others.

The Veros family currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida. Additionally, Veros is employed with the Wounded Warrior Project as a Warrior Coordinator helping other service men and women transition into civilian life.

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About Built to Honor™
PulteGroup's Built to Honor™ program was launched in 2013 to recognize and thank returning military personnel who have been injured during their term of service by providing mortgage-free homes to veterans and their families. Built to Honor works in partnership with nonprofit organizations, such as Operation FINALLY HOME, to identify veteran candidates. Follow Built to Honor on Twitter: @BuiltToHonor.

About Operation FINALLY HOME
Operation FINALLY HOME was established in 2005 as a nonpartisan/nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. The mission of Operation FINALLY HOME is to provide custom-built, mortgage-free homes to America's military heroes and the widows of the fallen who have sacrificed so much to defend our freedom and values. Operation FINALLY HOME partners with corporate sponsors, builder associations, builders, developers, individual contributors, and volunteers to help America's military heroes and their families transition to the home front by addressing one of their most pressing needs - a home to call their own. To find out more, visit OperationFinallyHome.org.

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