Purple Heart Homes and Patriot Military Family Foundation held a Mission Complete Ceremony at Scott Wilson’s new home in Statesville on Saturday

BY DONNA SWICEGOOD

Scott Wilson has finally found himself in a better place — both figuratively and literally.

Wilson, a retired U.S. Army veteran, said he’s faced many ups and downs over the years, but seeing two local organizations work together to give him a home to call his own has been another step in getting his life back on track.

Wilson’s tiny home on Randolph Street in Statesville is the culmination of efforts by Purple Heart Homes and Patriot Military Family Foundation.

Representatives of the two groups were on hand Saturday morning for a Mission Complete Ceremony to dedicate Wilson’s new home.

And while it means a safe place for Wilson to live, it also stands as a dedication to another veteran who did not make it home. In front of the house is a plaque in honor of Specialist Jake Carroll, who died while serving in Afghanistan in 2010.

Richard Cantwell, chairman of the Patriot Military Family Foundation, said the ceremony Saturday and Wilson’s new home came about thanks to Carroll’s family and a 5K run held in Carroll’s honor. That run, which started some seven years ago, began with 50 runners. The most recent event had 400 participants.

The money to build Wilson’s home was a raised through one of those 5K races, which was at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Cantwell said Carroll’s family wanted to do something to continue his legacy of helping others and making an impact on the community. Giving veterans a helping hand is one of the ways they decided would carry on his legacy and make an impact, Cantwell said.

“Part of the service that all of you do is you are ambassadors for the cause and that cause is really important. Our veterans who have served and paid a hefty price, especially over the last 20 years, and you want to continue to serve so creating organizations like Purple Heart Homes and ours enables not only veterans to give back but also serves as that liaison to the community and to honor those that want to help,” Cantwell said.

Since starting the effort to honor Carroll, Cantwell said, more than $400,000 has been raised.

“We are glad to be dedicating this home in Jake’s memory,” said John Gallina, co-founder of Purple Heart Homes.

“If we can’t provide housing support to those who have fought and sacrificed for our nation, then who can we provide it to?” Gallina asked. “It’s a great starting point for us in the community to be able to say, ‘Hey, here’s an opportunity for us to come together and here’s an opportunity for us to put all our differences aside and help and support somebody that deserves it and is truly in need.’ ”

Wilson said he is truly humbled by those that came together to make this a reality, and he is honored to remember Carroll’s sacrifice. “It really hits home,” Wilson said as he stood in front of his new home.

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs the last 20 years,” he said.

Some of those downs landed him in trouble, and he’s working to put that behind him through the Veterans Treatment Court, a program that aims to help veterans with substance abuse or mental health issues.

Gallina said the treatment court and a PHH program called Project Reboot have been instrumental in helping Wilson reach this milestone. Another important milestone for Wilson was his recent baptism.

“This is changing lives,” he said.

Wilson agreed. He said his acceptance of Christ and particiation in Project Reboot have helped him overcome the demons from post-traumatic stress disorder and allowed him to begin building new relationships with his children — two sets of twins, ages 30 and 28.

Despite the lasting scars from his military service, Wilson said, he’s proud to be a veteran, and Saturday’s ceremony was another example of the support of his fellow veterans.

“I’m in a better place,” he said.