Wounded Beulah Veteran Receives a Free Home Tuesday!

 Beulah resident Corey Dingman and his wife Michelle received a cost free home in a homecoming ceremony held yesterday in District 1.  The home was funded through the generous giving of Bass Pro Shops, Lennar Homes, and a host of other small businesses that contributed materials, labor, and time to the effort.

Helping a Hero is the non-profit that is facilitating the construction of 100 homes for wounded US servicemen and women throughout the country, utilizing the generous donations from multiple large corporate sponsors including Lennar and Bass Pro Shops.

Locally, Corey Dingman was selected as the recipient of the home give away.  Dingman served in the US Army for 7 years and did tours of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan, where he suffered numerous injuries.  An auto accident led to the amputation of a leg once Dingman returned home.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held just a short 90 days ago, and the home was actually completed in just 67 days.  Yesterday, the keys to this 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom handicapped accessible home were presented to Corporal Dingman and his wife.  "Thanks to you all for coming out to support this event, and thanks to God for this home" Dingman exclaimed to the assembled group lining his new driveway as he pulled up on a rare, windy, and 26 degree morning in Pensacola Florida.

Yesterday's ceremony was attended by executives from Lennar, Bass Pro Shops, various subcontractos, multiple other firms' representatives, and Escambia County employees.

WKRG covered the event, as did Escambia's CMR team.

A great day in District 1!  See photos from the event, below.

Tremendous Generosity for a District 1 Wounded Warrior!

Friday afternoon a ceremony was held in District 1 to honor a wounded veteran who lives in our community.  Corporal Corey Dingman served multiple tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan with the United States Army- where he was severely injured.  After active service he stayed in the fight as a defense contractor overseas for nearly four years.

This past week, Cpl. Dingman and his wife Michelle were notified that they would be receiving a fully furnished, handicap-accessible, and fully-paid for brand new home in District 1.  The nonprofit group Helping a Hero has teamed up with Bass Pro Shops and Lennar Homes to begin the 100 homes challenge, an initiative established with the goal of identifying and building 100 homes for America's wounded heroes who have come home from active service gravely injured.

I was notified the groundbreaking would occur Friday morning and I was humbled to be invited and to give remarks on behalf of the community.

The highlights of the ceremony can be viewed at this video here, along with an interview with Cpl. Dingman and his wife Michelle.

It is incredible, the generosity of our nation's business community and average citizens who donate to such admirable causes as Helping a Hero.  Initiatives such as this would never get off the ground without such support AND the amazing work of corporations like Lennar Homes and Bass Pro Shops.

I look forward to early January when the community will celebrate the completion of this hero's house and we will welcome him "home" together.

Thank you for your service to our nation Cpl Dingman!