RALEIGH, N.C., March 26, 2015 – Operation: Coming Home, a joint volunteer project by the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County (HBA), the U.S. Veterans Corps, Royal Oaks Homes and various area nonprofits and businesses, presented the keys to its ninth Hero Home to U.S. Marine Cpl. Ryan Wightman and his wife, Melissa. Held on Thursday, March 26, the ceremony honored Cpl. Wightman, who was injured by an improvised explosive device while trying to help a fallen Marine in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan on May 26, 2012. The home, located in Fuquay-Varina’s Parker Pointe community, was built and furnished by Royal Oaks Homes, an award-winning local homebuilder.

Cpl. Wightman and family members were on hand for the celebration. The ceremony included addresses by Gov. Pat McCrory; James West, Chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners; Mayor John Byrne of Fuquay-Varina; Rich Van Tassel, president of Royal Oaks Homes; Tim Minton, president of the Operation: Coming Home Foundation and executive vice president of the HBA; Col. Kenneth M. DeTreux, Commanding Officer of the 8th Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune; as well as 150 marines from Camp Lejeune.

For more information on Operation: Coming Home and the construction of the ninth Hero Home, visit http://www.operationcominghome.com.

DETAILS:

- Cpl. Wightman was announced as the recipient of the ninth Hero Home at the UNC vs. Virginia Tech football game on Oct. 4, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Nov. 13.

QUOTES:

“It’s such an honor to be able to thank Cpl. Wightman for his service and sacrifice,” said Minton, president of the Operation: Coming Home Foundation. “Our volunteers came together and built a custom home where he and his wife can become part of the local community, raise a family and make memories for years to come. This marks the ninth time that we’ve handed over the keys to a Hero Home, and we look forward to building homes for Triangle area veterans for years to come.”

NEW MEDIA CONTENT:

Operation: Coming Home on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/OperationComingHome

ABOUT OPERATION: COMING HOME:

Operation: Coming Home is a joint volunteer project by the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County (HBA), and various area nonprofits and businesses. The project builds and donates homes for disabled combat veterans who have served in the Middle East, after a selection committee interviews candidates to determine the best fit. For more information, visit http://operationcominghome.com.

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