Sgt. Josh Wetzel, senior in marketing, his wife Paige Wetzel and his daughter Harper Wetzel ceremonially broke ground on their new home in front of a crowd on a hot June 6 morning in front of a cheering, flag-waving crowd.
Josh and his family are building a house with the help of Homes for Our Troops, an organization that builds specially adapted homes for wounded veterans injured after 9/11.
Josh lost both his legs May 31, 2012, when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan.
Paige said the house will include adaptations, such as lower countertops, wider doorways and 360-degree radius for a wheelchair. She said the house will serve Josh's needs now and as he ages.
"When he's 60 years old, who knows if he'll ever put his legs on again," Paige said. "We're going to be living in a place where forever, no matter what, whether he's in a wheelchair 24 hours a day or just part of the time, we're going to be living in a place where that takes care of whatever his choice may be.
Paige said her what her family was looking for was different than a typical home.
"You can't buy what we need," Paige said. "The things that we're concerned with are just living hazards that able-bodied people don't deal with. And this organization is not only going to give us a nice home, but it's going to be a home that takes care of that stuff for us."
Paige said independence was major for both Josh and other veterans.
"Going from the man of the house, the breadwinner of the family, to having to be supervised all the time is really hard and is something that nobody wants to go through," Paige said.
Tony Mullis lives in a house from Homes for Our Troops in Georgia. Mullis said he doesn't have to worry anymore now that he and his family have the house.
"For the past two years, my wife can go and not have to worry about if I'm sick or if I can't wear my legs, I can still take care of my son without her there," Mullis said.
Mullis said he knows other veterans' lives will improve when they receive a new home.
Larry Gill, veterans liaison for Homes for Our Troops, said he is "proud of what these homes provide."
"It changes their life, it saves their life in a lot of cases," Gill said. "These are guys and gals that aren't used to asking for help, so now they're able to help their family and provide for them without worrying about paying rent or mortgage."
Gill joked that Josh's honey-do list would get longer, now that he has access to more appliances.
Gill said the homes help soldiers still fighting and communities.
"It's important [the troops] know that the community still supports them," Gill said. "It's important that they know if they get hurt that they're going to be taken care of. But it's also important for the community because people want to say thank you."
Josh said receiving the house cements him and his family in Auburn.
"It does so much more than just give me and my family a place to live," Josh said. "It gives me more accessibility and more freedom as a husband and as a father."
Josh said he is "fired up and excited" to begin construction.
City Councilman Ron Anders said having Homes for Our Troops build a home for Josh and his family was a proud moment for the community.
"We certainly look forward to Josh's family being a great blessing to our community and our youth in Auburn-Opelika," Anders said.
Gill said volunteers would have an opportunity to help with the landscaping for the house during a volunteer day.
This is the first Homes for Our Troops home in Auburn and the fourth in Alabama.
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