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April 10, 2017

On a beautiful sun-filled Monday morning, April 3, Wounded Warrior MSgt Blaine Scott and wife Lilly and 10-year-old son Blaine were welcomed into their new neighborhood in Copper Ridge just outside of New Braunfels, Texas.  They were honored by a parade with local dignitaries and led by the Smithson Valley high school marching band ending at their custom-built home.   The colors for the Welcome Ceremony were presented by the Smithson Valley ROTC. 

American patriot Lee Greenwood was there to personally escort the family to the front door.  The welcome ceremony started with another Wounded Hero, JP Lane, singing the National Anthem.   Other Wounded Heroes speaking were SSG (ret) Shilo Harris, and MSgt Scott’s best friend, GySgt (ret) Guillermo Tejeda. 

Greenwood did not let the audience of approximately 600 down as he belted out his songs ‘Stars and Stripes’, ‘Wind beneath my Wings’ and ‘God Bless the USA’. Greenwood has sung at about 15 ceremonies for Helping a Hero.  He is best known for God Bless the USA and when he sang his closing song, the audience reacted with loud applause and waving of their American flags.  It was then that Greenwood presented MSgt Scott with the keys to his new personalized home.

MSgt Scott spoke at the Welcome Ceremony with strong words of gratitude.  At one point he said. “I don’t deserve this.”  To which the crowd yelled in unison that he did deserve his beautiful home.  MSgt Scott and Lilly have been married for 17 years and look forward to a fruitful and happy journey being parents and helping other Wounded Warriors.

USMC Scott served as Platoon Sergeant in Delta Company and was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in Al Anbar Province in 2004. During his second deployment to Iraq in 2006, he was severely burned over 40% of his body in an IED explosion in the town of Rawah. He spent 18 months in rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Upon his recovery, Sgt Scott wanted to continue being active in the Marine Corp and in 2010 he was deployed to Afghanistan with the I Marine Expeditionary Forces and was assigned to the camp Commandant’s Office.   

He was promoted to MSgt in 2012 and before his retirement in 2015 he spent three years at the Wounded Warrior Battalion-East supervising the transition and care of the wounded Marines at San Antonio Military Medical Center, formerly Brooke Army Medical Center.

The Scott’s suffered an enormous loss when Isabella, their 12 year old daughter, committed suicide after being taunted about her epilepsy just a few months before they intended to move into their new home.  Small lavender paper envelopes each containing a butterfly had been distributed to all who attended the ceremony. Immediately after Greenwood sang Wind beneath my Wings, Lilly released her box of butterflies in Isabella’s memory. Approximately 400 butterflies were then released. It was visibility an emotional time for the family.     

MSgt Scott and his wife Lilly have taken a deep interest in helping other wounded warriors on their return home. They have been able to comfort and mentor those wounded warriors with significant challenges, some with suicidal thoughts. A Wounded Warrior room that is wheelchair accessible has been added to their new home to provide a warm and supportive atmosphere for those veterans needing kindness. Rudy’s BBQ has donated $7,500 to help defray the expense of food aiding the heroes to gather in camaraderie in their home.  

A dinner was held the night prior to the ceremony at the Hyatt Hill Country in San Antonio, Texas.  Awards were presented to contributing companies that promote and assist Helping a Hero by providing services or products free of charge.   Rooms to Go, Conn’s Home Plus, Dean Buescher of Vintage Estate Homes and Lampe Interiors were some of the recipients. 

Helping a Hero provides severely wounded veterans with homes adapted for their particular individual needs.  Since the inception of Helping a Hero in 2006, 100 homes in 22 states have been awarded to wounded heroes helping them in their transition back to civilian life. Price range of the home is usually $250,000 with the veteran paying a minimum of $50,000 and with the provision that he lives in the home for at least 10 years. 

 

Our American wounded warriors are our heroes.  God bless our wounded warriors.  God bless Texas, God bless America!

THE RED REPORT

RED SONJA

Fight, NEVER GIVE UP!

 

Helping a Hero

https://54683.thankyou4caring.org/

Issues: Family

Topics: MilitarySource: Wounded Warrior MSgt (Ret) Blaine Scott and Family Receive a Warm Welcome