Citizens Bank makes it a ‘home free home’ for wounded veteran

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 5/21/15

Although it may have been raining, things were looking bright for the Joshua and Erica Bacon Tuesday morning.

Through a partnership between Citizens Bank and the Military Warriors Support …

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Citizens Bank makes it a ‘home free home’ for wounded veteran

Posted

Although it may have been raining, things were looking bright for the Joshua and Erica Bacon Tuesday morning.

Through a partnership between Citizens Bank and the Military Warriors Support Foundation, Joshua who was wounded during combat in Afghanistan, was given a mortgage-free house in Warwick.

The Military Warriors Support Foundation (MWSF), which was founded in 2007 in San Antonio, Texas, supports wounded soldiers and their families during the transition back to civilian life.

Through MWSF’s home donation program, wounded veterans are given a mortgage-free house, but must complete three years of mentoring, which includes family and financial skills before the deed is officially transferred.

So far 67 families have graduated the program The Bacon’s new home is the first for Rhode Island.

Sandy Ignaszewski, a representative from MWSF for the Key Ceremony Tuesday morning, said the veterans who receive homes are usually in the process of starting their lives all over again.

“They have been medically discharged, so all of a sudden the job they thought they would do for this rest of their life isn’t an option anymore,” she said.

She said many of the veteran the organization helps are struggling to get back on their feet and by having a home they are given “security and a comfort zone” in which to put their lives back together, whether that is having the opportunity to return to school or enter into the job force.

Ignaszewski said, “This is the best job in the world. Especially when you see the faces of veterans and their families when they first walk through the door of their new home. How can they not feel welcomed and wanted when they walk into a beautiful home like this?”

Joshua Bacon first enlisted in the Army in 2008 as a combat engineer with the 41st Engineering Company.

During his deployment to Afghanistan, Joshua was “bumped and banged around” to the point where he realized he just couldn’t keep up anymore.

He was medically discharged and eventually underwent a spinal fusion for his back problems.

For his time in the Army, Joshua received a Combat Action Badge and an Army Commendation Medal with V device. His unit was also awarded the Valorous Unit Award.

“You come back a different man,” Joshua said. “You remember everything like it was only a few minutes ago. When I first came back it was a struggle to adjust.”

Erica Bacon, said she did everything she could to support her husband and at first they had to take things “day by day.”

“Great organizations like this one are changing people’s lives and it’s been an immense change for me I don’t think I fully comprehend yet,” Joshua said.

Brad Conner, Citizens Bank’s Vice Chairman, Consumer Banking, had one more surprise after passing the keys off to the Bacons.

More than 50 Citizens Bank volunteers helped renovate the foreclosed house. Even more provided a “virtual housewarming”, donating $5,000 in gift cards to the family to begin their new lives in their new home.

He said he was speechless, but couldn’t thank everyone involved enough and that their kindness and effort would help the family for generations to come.

The family, with two children and two dogs, will move into the house over the next few days, currently they are renting a house in Conimicut.

Upon first seeing the house Erica thanked everyone who “put time into making our dreams come true,” and said the house is “gorgeous”.

“This is above and beyond what we thought. We couldn’t be happier,” Erica said. “It’s so good knowing we have something of our own and I’m excited to make it a home.”

To learn more about the Military Warriors Support Foundation visit their website at, www.militarywarriors.org.

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