One of the worst days in the life of U.S. Army Master Sgt. Christopher “Chris” Blauvelt (Ret.) was April 4, 2010, when he was severely injured by an improvised explosive device detonated underneath a vehicle he was in while serving in Afghanistan.
However, Aug. 17, 2024, was one of the happiest days of his life. That’s when he and his family were welcomed to a new, mortgage-free home on Nine Iron Court in Wesley Chapel.
The national nonprofit organization Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) presented the custom-built home to the family because of the severe combat-related injuries Blauvelt had sustained. In addition to his right leg having to be amputated, he also had a traumatic brain injury and suffered spinal fractures and a fractured pelvis.
Blauvelt told the approximately 100 people attending the ceremony at his new home that he doesn’t remember anything that happened to him on that day. But he assured them he would never forget the day he was presented the custom-built home that is specially adapted to provide him with a safe living environment.
Blauvelt and his family previously resided in a two-story home in Tampa where he faced serious daily challenges.
His new 2,800-square-foot home has four bedrooms and two bathrooms. One of those bathrooms is oversized and designed so he can safely roll into it to take a shower.
Blauvelt, his wife Bernadette, and the couple’s five children – Coulter, Penny, Zoe, Mia and Zachery – are happily calling the new residence their home.
HFOT has provided mortgage-free homes to hundreds of combat-wounded veterans across the nation since its founding in 2004, according to Jocelyn Phipps, the organization’s community engagement coordinator. HFOT has lived up to its motto of “Building Homes, Rebuilding Lives!” Phipps said.
The nonprofit’s mission is to build and donate specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post 9/11 veterans to enable them to rebuild their lives, Phipps said. It doesn’t receive any federal or state funding.
Attendees saw Blauvelt receive the keys to his new home and triumphantly hoist a U.S. flag on a flagpole in front of it, as part of the ceremony.
“Y’all don’t know how much this means to me,” he said. “I’ve never had a flagpole before.”
Blauvelt has a lengthy service history prior to being medically discharged in 2012.
He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard immediately after graduating from high school because he wanted to serve in a law enforcement-type capacity. He was a helicopter rescue swimmer for four of the eight years he was in the Coast Guard.
After working for the U.S. Postal Service for a couple of years, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served there for about five years, during which time he worked in Force Recon.
The 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred about six months after he was discharged from the Marine Corps, which prompted him to join the U.S. Army National Guard based in Connecticut where he and his family lived at that time.
It was during his first deployment to Afghanistan as a National Guardsman that he was severely injured.
People were invited to tour the house after a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Some of the activities preceding the tour were the presentation of the colors by members of the Wesley Chapel Cadet Squadron of the Florida Wing of the Civil Air Patrol and Autumn Rae singing the National Anthem.
Also, Elizabeth Evans Weiss was recognized as the general contractor for the construction of Blauvelt’s home, along with Jim Peley, project manager, and the staff and subcontractors at Elizabeth Evans Custom Homes.
Bonnie Purcell with Quilts of Valor wrapped one of their quilts around Blauvelt.
U.S. Air Force Col. Ret. Jerry Custin made some remarks on behalf of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-FL’s 12th District.
Deb Kehoe, a volunteer with the Rosedale Fundraiser, talked about how the donations of HOFT had steadily increased over the years, including more than $400,000 raised in 2023.
“Quite frankly, it’s not about the money,” Kehoe said. “It’s about what the money does for the veterans.”.
HFOT Executive Director Bill Ivey also made some remarks.
When it was his turn to speak, Blauvelt thanked family members, including his wife, children, mother and mother-in-law, for their support. Blauvelt said he hadn’t been able to sleep for two days before the ceremony and that he felt guilty about the mortgage-free house being built for him and his family.
“I’m supposed to feel like this is amazing,” Blauvelt said.
He then announced he planned to begin going to college sometime next year, which resulted in a loud round of applause from the attendees.
Published August 28, 2024.
