JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
A veteran who now works as a contractor at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, received a mortgage-free home from SunTrust Bank and the Military Warriors Support Foundation March 2, 2019.
SunTrust Bank works with the MWSF in identifying service members in need of a fresh start in terms of finding a home and financial assistance.
“Our teammates that have served or had family served are dedicated to veteran issues,” said Peter Mahoney, SunTrust Bank executive vice president. “We got together with MWSF, we put together this program where we take homes that have been foreclosed or repossessed, then we work with the MWSF to identify a wounded combat veteran who could use a start in a home with no mortgage.”
Joshua Howe and his family was escorted by motorcade through their new neighborhood to the driveway, where they saw their new home for the first time.
“It was hard to keep it together,” Howe said. “I’m not emotional to begin with but this was drawing me in. Just to see the support and the people who took their time to do something for someone they don’t know. For them to show support and to know it will happen for future Soldiers and people who need that kind of help. It’s amazing.”
Joshua Howe lived in San Diego before deciding to enlist in the U.S. Army as an Infantryman. During his 11 years of service, he deployed to Iraq where he sustained injuries that caused vision loss in his right eye.
Howe, as a Staff Sgt., would eventually be medically retired but continues to serve as a contractor helping prepare logistics for Soldiers who are deploying.
When preparing for his separation from the Army, Howe was told to apply for the MWSF to receive assistance upon being discharged. Howe was later notified that he and his family would be receiving a home.
“You sit at home and watch TV and see things like this happen, you just never believe it would happen to you,” Howe said. “A lot of people have troubles in their lives, and we are no different. We have suffered the loss of a child, my background and all my surgeries so this was beyond what I can express on what it means for my family, let alone for my kids’ future.”