Sam Matthews & Alan Armer

Michael Martin, Thaddeus Allen & Jeff Gilmain

Shad Newton with Spitfi re

Capt. Nathan Nelson

O

n December 16, Retired Air Force Captain Nathan 
Nelson and his family were welcomed into their new 
mortgage-free home in Santa Rosa Beach by a crowd of 
supporters and well-wishers.  The captain drove up in his 

custom built mini van with his family in a convoy led by the Patriot 
Guard Riders.  

Nelson was almost killed when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his 

base in Afghanistan in September 2013, where he took the brunt of the 
blast and suffered shrapnel in his back, a spinal-cord injury, collapsed 
lungs, and signifi cant blood loss. He endured nine surgeries and was 
awarded the Purple Heart for his service. 

Nelson’s new home was made possible by Building Homes for 

Heroes, a national non-profi t, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization 

founded in 2006. Building Homes for Heroes is strongly committed to 
rebuilding lives and supporting the brave men and women who were 
injured while serving the country during the time of the wars in Iraq 
or Afghanistan. The organization builds or modifi es homes, and gifts 
them, mortgage-free, to veterans and their families.

Andy Pujol, the CEO and founder of Homes for Heroes expressed 

his gratitude to Capt. Nelson for his service and stated, ”This is just 
a small token of our appreciation for your sacrifi ce.” Other statesmen 
who attended this all-important and heart warming event were 
Representatives Matt Gaetz and Mel Ponder, who also spoke and 
expressed their gratitudes to Homes for Heroes and most importantly 
to Captain Nelson for his service and sacrifi ce.

photos & story by

 

Zhalman Harris

Larry & Beverly Sassano

   VIP Destin at Santa Rosa Beach

90     |    VIPDestinMagazine.com

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12/27/17   9:38 AM