A cheering crowd welcomed Army Sgt. Robert Tabers, his wife Heather and their five children as they pulled up to their new mortgage-free home in Sanford on Thursday morning.
Tabers said he’s humbled by the entire experience.
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“It's hard to put into words. Overwhelming, extremely humbling," Tabers said. "There are so many people that deserve homes like this. It's hard to put into words."
The Tabers rented for years, but thanks to the Building Homes for Heroes organization and Chase Bank, their dream of owning one is now a reality.
"Seeing our kids’ faces when we walked in, they were so excited. I almost forgot to look around because I was looking at them," Tabers said.
The children said they are proud of their father and the sacrifices he made to give them a roof over their head.
What's special about the home is that it has been modified to fit Sgt. Tabers’ needs.
He suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and numerous physical injuries from his 20 years in the military, where he endured a number of concussions due to explosions and small arms fire.
"It's set up where the rooms are larger. Small rooms give me a bit of a fit, even though I have been back for a while,” said Tabers. “Rooms are larger, colors are nice and subtle, and they chose the right things my wife wanted, and that makes it a lot easier too."
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But Tabers’ favorite part? A flag pole with Old Glory waving in the wind.
Building Homes for Heroes is a national nonprofit organization.
To date, the organization has given homes and new opportunities to more than 100 families across the nation.
Cox Media Group
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