Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Thursday’s house unveiling by Operation Finally Home for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Justin Raymer – as the sunset set on a gorgeous day in September – felt more like the Fourth of July.
American flags were distributed at a large tent across the street from Raymer’s new home on East Ontario Lane where several hundred people gathered. The Indiana Patriot Guard stood still with large flags as a color guard arrived. A country music artist crooned Lee Greenwood’s “Proud To Be American.”
And there were a series of oohs and ahhs. Those were echoed through the foyer of the newly constructed house as Raymer, his wife, Kaci, and some of their five children got a first glimpse of the finished home that spans 3,200 feet and includes five bedrooms and numerous state-of-the-art amenities donated by local firms.
Raymer and his wife looked around in awe at a large kitchen island as the kids spontaneously whooped it up with delight.
Thursday’s event was the culmination of nearly two years of local work by the Builders Association of Kosciusko And Fulton Counties.
The project marked the first time a home had been built for a veteran in Indiana with the guidance of Operation Finally Home.
Raymer served three tours in Iraq and survived two missile attacks and IED bombing. He was medically discharged in 2015. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, has been diagnosed with PTSD and still struggles with injuries to both elbows and a shoulder.
The Raymers were greeted with a gift basket from the neighborhood association and Mayor Joe Thallemer welcomed the family home and offered thanks.
Those assembled included veterans, builders, and representatives of Operation Finally Home and the builders association.
Kaci, speaking for the family, thanked everyone involved. She said everyone was welcoming from the very beginning.
“We felt right at home. For Justin, it seemed like he never really left,” Kaci said.
The family learned they had been chosen in November at a concert at Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts.
“We are so happy that this 10-month journey is over and that this new chapter in our book can start. We have many more chapters to go and we can grow roots here with our kids,” she said. “Thank you so much for that.”
Dan Wallrath, the founder of OFH who was born in Indiana, but made Texas his home, thanked the community, the builders association and specifically John Kidd, of R.W. Kidd Construction, for being the contractor of record for the project.
“Justin, we just want to tell you, thank you so much for your service, for your sacrifice,” Wallrath said, also tipping his hat to Kaci. “We realize the sacrifices you and your family have made so he could go and serve his country.”
The Raymers’ house is the 132nd constructed by OFH. They have another 80 or so in the works.
Wallrath said Warsaw is the smallest community they’ve ever partnered with, but made it easy and is “one of the most giving projects we’ve ever had. It’s just been amazing.”
As he’s visited different cities where OFH has built homes, he said he’s come to realize people are the same everywhere.
“We have good Christian, God-fearing conservative folks all over these who United States who love America and want to help our veterans,” he said.
