Air Force Staff Sergeant Justin Day stood surrounded by American flags, fellow service members and grateful community members as he accepted the keys to a gift that will change his family’s future — a mortgage-free home built specifically for his needs.

• “This life can be really sad,” Day said, his voice breaking as he addressed the crowd gathered for Wednesday’s home dedication ceremony. “It’s only because of your community that makes it less sad and you can share and distribute that load.”

Day, his wife Rebecca, and their two young sons, received the keys to their new four-bedroom home on Wednesday morning, culminating years of recovery since a 2018 explosion in Afghanistan claimed Day’s right leg above the knee and caused severe hand injuries and a traumatic brain injury.

• The dedication ceremony, organized by Building Homes for Heroes and the Emerald Coast Association of REALTORS®, represented the culmination of efforts from numerous organizations and individuals determined to honor Day’s sacrifice.

Day, who served six years as an Air Force Combat Controller working alongside elite special operations teams including Army Special Forces and Navy SEALs before his medical retirement in 2020, directed his most emotional thanks to fellow service members in attendance.

“Everybody in a beret back there — that is the only reason why this entire experience from seven years ago to now has been palatable,” Day said. “I can’t thank you enough for being who you are. And I hope to even begin to repay the debt that I’ve incurred to you guys.”

For his military service and sacrifice, Day received numerous commendations, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Force Commendation Medal and Air Force Combat Action Medal.

The home dedication brought together military personnel, local officials, volunteers and the many people who contributed to making the project possible. A procession to the home included JP Carducci Construction, the Crestview Police Department, North Okaloosa County Fire Department, North Okaloosa Sheriff Department and Northwest Florida Patriot Guard Riders, who formed a flag line leading to the property.

• Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners Chairman Paul Mixon prayed over the house and presented the Days with a new bible for their home.

The mortgage-free home represents more than just a place to live for the Day family — it’s specifically adapted to accommodate Day’s injuries and provide stability for his children’s future.

“This is a gift to my family and their future, more than it is to me,” Day said, pointing to his two boys. “Those two down there don’t realize it right now, but this is probably the pivotal moment in their lives and stability for them in the future.”

The 1,800-square-foot home features all the modern conveniences of new construction, plus specialized adaptations including wider doorways, an oversized master shower with a seat and dual valves, comfort-height toilets, and open-concept living areas that provide ease of movement.

• Perhaps most surprising to Day and his family was the revelation that the home came fully furnished — a detail kept secret until the dedication day.

Builder Ferrin Campbell said the 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom home required significant planning to meet Day’s needs while maintaining a livable layout.

“We had to tweak it for ADA specifications to get the wider interior doors, the turnaround space and all the requirements you have for ADA,” Campbell said. “But in the end, I think it’ll work out good for him and his family.”

Campbell noted how the project revealed the giving spirit of the community, with numerous businesses and individuals donating materials, time and expertise.

• “From day one, everybody just stepped up to give back over and over again,” Campbell said. “We live in a great community, but once you get involved with something like this…it is when you really start to realize what kind of community we live in.”

The land for the home was donated by retired Air Force Master Sergeant Charles “Chuck” Hughes and his wife Ellen. Their daughter, Nancy Klein, represented the family at the ceremony.

“We could not have been more honored to have donated this lot to make this happen for Justin and Rebecca,” Klein said. “We’re very proud to be here today and do our small part in helping this happen.”

Tammy Summers, who coordinated the home’s interior design, worked with numerous local businesses to create a comfortable and functional space for the Day family. For Summers, the project held deep personal significance.

• “This project is near and dear to my heart. I lost my husband in Afghanistan in 2009, so he didn’t get to come home,” Summers said. “To help with a project like this to help a hero blesses me more than anyone.”

The design process required Summers to step outside her comfort zone, working closely with Day to incorporate his preferences while ensuring the home would meet his needs.

“This man deserves this house, and I wanted to do everything that I could to make him feel like it was his home,” Summers said. “We met and we discussed the color palettes that he liked, and I went from there.”

• Local businesses stepped up to assist, including Skipper’s Furniture, which provided design services and deeply discounted furnishings. Emerald Coast Tile helped with flooring and bathroom selections, while others contributed granite countertops and other finishes.

The Emerald Coast Association of REALTORS® played a crucial role in the project, having supported Building Homes for Heroes for 11 years through fundraising events like their annual bowling tournament.

Chrissy Hartley, who chairs ECAR’s Building Homes for Heroes Task Force, recalled the moment she told Day he would receive the home.

“When I was given the opportunity to announce to Justin that he would be the recipient of a new home at one of our fundraisers, I knew it was going to be an unforgettable moment and the hardest secret I ever had to keep,” Hartley said. “Justin’s reaction didn’t disappoint. It was what movies are made of — true raw emotions and pure gratitude.”

For Hartley and ECAR, this project was particularly meaningful because of their involvement at every stage, from the initial announcement to securing the builder and lot, participating in the groundbreaking and fundraising, and finally the home dedication.

• “After meeting Justin, hearing his story and listening to him share his outlook on life in service, I’m truly inspired,” Hartley said. “Justin is the embodiment of [Jeremiah 29:11] and truly feels that everything happens for a reason and for those reasons we stand here today to honor him and celebrate him. He is a hero, a warrior, and a blessing to us all.”

Major financial support for the home came from the Graiff Family Foundation, Lowe’s Home Improvement, and SAIC, a Fortune 500 company focused on technology solutions for the military.

Ian Ferguson, vice president and chief technology officer for SAIC, noted the company has supported Building Homes for Heroes for 12 years, with Day’s home marking their 19th such contribution.

“The word ‘home’ holds great significance,” Ferguson said during the ceremony. “It refers to our nation, for those of us serving overseas, to the communities in which we live, and to the houses where we raise our families. We are honored to help provide a place that you and your family will call home.”

Employees from SAIC volunteered their time earlier in the week to complete landscaping and other finishing touches on the property.

Crestview Mayor JB Whitten, himself a retired Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant, spoke about the unique dangers faced by combat controllers like Day.

• “I spent all those years and never once was my life threatened, and yet combat controllers, every day they go to work, they don’t know what’s going to happen,” Whitten said. “You are truly a hero. You’ve done a great job for us.”

Rusty Smallwood, a representative from Building Homes for Heroes, shared that the organization has provided over 400 homes to injured veterans since its founding in 2006 by CEO Andy Pujol following the 9/11 attacks. The organization has expanded its mission to include veterans from all wars and first responders, with a goal of reaching 500 homes gifted by the end of 2026.

As the Day family prepares to start their new life in Crestview, the home represents more than just four walls and a roof — it symbolizes a community’s gratitude and commitment to supporting those who have sacrificed for their country.

“It’s a small way for us to say thank you for your service, your courage, and most of all, your sacrifice,” Hartley said. “It’s our hope that this house will become a home that brings peace, comfort, and a future filled with joy for you and your family.”

For Day, who has faced extraordinary challenges since his injury, the support of his community — particularly his fellow service members — makes all the difference.

“Nobody here had to do this. Nobody. But you did,” Day said. “And it’s why any of this is palatable and worth it.”