Corporal Southern and wife Ashley get keys today

Historic City News reporters learned from Florida Veterans Programs and Projects, Inc., representative Gary Bruce, that at 1:00 p.m. today, the keys to 254 Honey Branch Lane in St Augustine were officially turned over to USMC Corporal Tyler Southern and his wife Ashley.

Southern was on his second deployment when, on May 5, 2010, he stepped on a 10 pound, pressure plated improvised explosive device while searching for insurgents inside a walled compound in Musa Qala, Afghanistan.

The explosion was so severe; Southern has no recollection of what happened prior to the blast.  He lost both of his legs, above the knees, his right arm, above the elbow, and shattered his left arm and hand.

Southern received lifesaving measures at the scene, was transported by MEDEVAC to Camp Bastion Hospital in Afghanistan, and then was airlifted to Landstuhl, Germany.  For nearly two weeks, Southern remained in a coma at Bethesda Naval Medical Center.  He spent another three months recovering there before transferring to Walter Reed; where he continues to receive therapy.

Homes for Our Troops, along with local contractors, building supply companies, engineers, and volunteers designed, built and donated a beautiful home that is specially adapted to meet the needs of the wounded Marine and his family.

Services Donated to this project included:

General Contractor	Geotechnical Engineering
Dream Finders Homes	Universal Engineering Sciences
1500 Calming Island, FL. 32003	Jeff Pruitt, PE
904-375-9284	5561 Florida Mining Boulevard South
	Jacksonville, Florida 32257
Land Clearing and Trucking	(904) 296-0757 office
Smith Trucking Company Inc.
Thad Guerra	Landscape Architect
10875 Old Dixie Hwy	Jordan P. Limburg, RLA
Ponte Vedra, Fl 32081	13715 Richmond Park Drive North
904-940-1226	Suite 907
	Jacksonville, FL 32224
Lumber, Truss, Windows and Doors Siding	904.223.7298
Builders First Source
6550 Roosevelt Blvd.	Surveying
Jacksonville, FL. 32244	Bradshaw-Niles Associates, Inc.
904-772-6100	Dale Bradshaw
	280 Business Park Circle, Suite 410
Plumbing	St. Augustine, Fl 32095
Gene Morton’s Plumbing	904-829-2591
170 College Drive
Orange Park, FL 32065	Septic System Installer
904-272-4672	Moores Sand and Septic
	Johnny Moore
Framing Labor	4455-B Manucy Road
S.A Robinson Construction	St.Augustine 32084
200 Commercial Drive Suite 1
St Augustine, FL 32092	Roofing Materials
904-584-1800	ABC Roofing Supply
	5130 Phillips Hwy
Civil Engineer	Jacksonville, FL 32207
P&A Consulting Engineers, Inc.	904-730-2770
Michael D. Pullium CFEA, LEP
2808 N. Fifth Street, Suite 501	Electrical
St. Augustine, Fl. 32084	Hyatt Electrical
(904) 824-3755	54246 Heron Rd
	Callahan, FL 32011
	904-879-4242

John Gonsalves, president and founder of Homes for Our Troops, a not for profit organization that has built over 100 homes for wounded veterans, served as the emcee, introducing many of the people who helped to make the project possible.

Southern thanked Homes for Our Troops saying, “you will never know how much this means to me and my family. Your hearts are in a great place.”

Veterans and active military formed a large part of the audience.  Hundreds of motorcycles, including members of Rolling Thunder and the Patriot Guard Riders, formed a convoy to the home.

A large tent was setup to accommodate seating for those attending the key ceremony; however, it proved to be far too small.  Bruce reported that the crowd filled the tent and most of the front yard.

Like Tyler, most of his family has served, or is serving, in the armed forces.  His father Joe was in the Navy. One of his brothers, Joe, is in the Navy and his brother Jake is in the Army.

It was an emotional event, Bruce told Historic City News.  It was often punctuated by the smile and laughter of Southern as he showed the strong spirit that inspires those around him.

Gonsalves concluded the ceremony by handing the key to the house to the Southerns; who promptly unlocked the front door and took a tour, inviting all those attending to see their new home.

“This gift of a specially adapted home is monumental to me and my future, and my family’s future,” Southern said.  “This home will give me the freedom to go anywhere or do anything in my own home without any assistance, making my injuries a distant thought.”

The spacious home sits on a four-acre lot, providing room enough so that when the Southerns settle in, they do not ever have to think about moving.  Corporal Southern says he is looking forward to beginning a new life in a home that will allow him the freedom and independence he fought to preserve for our country.

“This unimaginable gift gives my family the freedom to live without the constant worry of whether or not I will be okay on my own,” Southern told his guests.  “I cannot express in words how much I appreciate this gift.”