The neighbors woke up bright and early to welcome home a hero, veteran Army Staff Sergeant Visala Tui, into their community.
“It’s great, honorable," said neighbor and Army veteran Mike Beerbower. "There’s no greater honor, in my opinion, than to serve your country. If you’re wounded, you give your blood, your sacrifice, your effort for that, there’s no greater honor.”
Neighbors, family, friends and complete strangers fought back tears as they watched Staff Sgt. Tui take the keys to a brand new home.
“I was scared walking through that door because I hate surprises," said Staff Sergeant Visala Tui. "But what a surprise!”
The Tui’s received a patriotic and welcomed surprise, months in the making thanks to Building Homes for Heroes.
“It’s not just the veteran," said Building Homes for Heroes CEO, Andrew McClure. "It’s the family, the wife, the children, putting them in the proper community that welcomes them in and we couldn’t be any happier for Mr. Tui and his family.”
And Sgt. Tui’s new neighbors are happy they will now call their community home.
“I can’t explain it," said Beerbower. "There’s nowhere else I would rather be today than right here. There’s nothing I would rather do. If I had something else to do, I would’ve canceled it.”
And that’s why the Tui’s are grateful for their many blessings they received today.
“It’s a dream come true for me, my husband and especially my little ones,” said Emma Tui.