Veteran family gifted keys to new home in Atascocita!Operation Finally Home, Highland Homes, Ashlar Development and the Greater Houston Builders Association were thrilled to announce that they were able to provide the Byrne family with a custom-built, mortgage-free home in The Groves in Atascocita.
[photos: The Groves]The house was mainly the doings of Operation FINALLY HOME, which is a nonpartisan/nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that was established in 2005. To date, they have over 250 home projects completed or in planning in 33 states providing custom-built, mortgage-free homes to America’s military heroes and the widows of the fallen, those who have worn America’s uniform and sacrificed so much to defend our freedoms and values. About the Byrne Family: U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Michael Byrne joined the U.S. Marines in 2005 after graduating from high school, with a mindset to keep his country safe. While stationed at Camp Pendleton (Calif.), Michael met his wife, Michelle, who is also a Marine veteran.He served in the Marines from 2005 until 2013. In January 2006, at the age of 20 years-old, he deployed for the first time to Iraq, followed by two additional deployments to Afghanistan. Throughout this time, Michael suffered severe injuries as his units constantly encountered heavy resistance with limited resources available. On his last deployment, he was the unit’s Designated Marksman, using special weapons to provide rapid, accurate fire on enemy targets.During his service, he was involved in eight different IED blasts that left him seriously injured and he medically retired. He received numerous awards and medals including the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign medal with 4 service stars, and the Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 service stars.He suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), migraines and several other injuries due to combat. His injuries make it difficult to work, but he’s pursuing a college degree focusing on community planning so he can help homeless military veterans in the future. Michael and his wife, Michelle, are parents to a son and daughter and they enjoy hiking as a family.Material companies, contractors, workers and others that participated in that project all left special notes for the family around the home...For more information on Operation Finally Home, visit www.operationfinally home.orgFor a look at their "Welcome Home" video, visit www.dropbox.com/s/iu mabf9t5bnns7d/ASH-00 77_Final.mp4?dl=0Read more at www.chron.com/neighb orhood/atascocita/ne ws/article/Veteran-f amily-gifted-ke