Welcome Home Celebration for EOD Master Sergeant Joseph Deslauriers & Family

BUILDING HOMES FOR HEROES® TO GIFT MORTGAGE-FREE HOME TO VETERAN

Celebration to be held to welcome home Silver Star recipient to Destin, Florida

Destin, Florida – Building Homes for Heroes® is proud to announce a homecoming celebration to welcome US Air Force Master Sergeant Joseph Deslauriers, his wife Lisa, and their son Cameron to their beautiful, mortgage-free home at 1337 Emerald Bay Dr. Destin, Florida 32514 on Saturday, October 25th at 10:00 am. 

The home was built from the ground up to meet the needs of MSgt. Deslauriers.  He is a triple-amputee.  Joining in the festive celebration will be military personnel, state and local dignitaries, members of the construction team, community members, corporate sponsors, members of civic organizations, family members and friends, police officers, and firefighters.    

In September of 2011, MSgt. Deslauriers, a 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician, was mounted in a mine resistance vehicle conducting a post blast assessment of an IED explosion in Afghanistan.  Explosive ordnance disposal specialists are tactical and technical explosives experts, who are trained to destroy and disable unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices and weapons of mass destruction.  In an effort to get a closer look at the damage done by the IED blast, MSgt. Deslauriers dismounted and unfortunately stepped on a secondary mine.  The explosion that ensued resulted in MSgt. Deslauriers losing both legs above the knee, and his left arm at the elbow. 

MSgt. Deslauriers, who carried out two tours of duty in Afghanistan and also served in Iraq, received the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service and US Air Force Commendation Medal, US Air Force Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, and National Defense Service Medal, and others.

The home was built by award-winning general contractor, Randy Wise Homes, Inc. of Niceville, Florida.  "We worked closely with the family to ensure that we met all of their needs,” said Randy Wise, President and Owner of Randy Wise Homes, Inc.  "Joe is an American hero who has made an incredible sacrifice by defending our country.  We wanted to let the world know that we are taking care of our veterans."

Building Homes for Heroes® expects to gift 30 to 40 mortgage-free homes in the state of Florida over a 12-month period.

ABOUT BUILDING HOMES FOR HEROES®:  Building Homes for Heroes® is strongly committed to rebuilding lives and supporting the brave men and women who were injured while serving the country during the time of the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.  The organization builds or modifies homes, and gifts them, mortgage-free, to veterans and their families.  It's our honor to support the men and women who have loyally and courageously served our country. 

 For more information on this celebration, please call 516 684-9220 or visit the organization's website at www.buildinghomesforheroes.org.  For media inquiries, ask for Andy Pujol.  

Building Homes for Heroes, Inc. is a non-profit, public charity exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.