Local Marine Is Gifted A Free Home From Operation Finally Home

U.S Marine Corporal Ray Lopez that he was going into an interview, only to find out he was being give a mortgage free home.

Corporal Lopez has been a long time resident of Odessa but served this great country in the early 2000's doing multiple tours in Iraq. During his second tour his unit took on enemy fire and was shot in the test. He was medically evacuated and treated in the United States. Once he was cleared he returned to combat for a third tour.

It all started when Corporal Lopez went in for an interview with Operation Finally  Home, an organization that provides mortgage free homes and restoration to homes for military heroes, first responders and widows  of the fallen.

Operation Finally  Home partnered with a local home building company Silver Leaf Homes to provide the home for Corporal Lopez and his two daughters.

Corporal Lopez thought he was going in to do an interview for Operation Finally  Home, only to find out he had already been selected for a home for he and his family. He was left speechless:

When Lopez finally realized what was happening, he was at a loss for words.

“I think that was my biggest thing,” Lopez said. “I was like ‘oh God.’ I almost shut down, mentally because I didn’t have any words when I got out. The first thing I thought was ‘I’m going to trip on this platform.’ … no, when I saw it, all I could think about were barbecues in the backyard and these two running around. I got so excited. In my head, I was thinking, don’t smile too much. I just couldn’t believe it. It was a pure shock and a feeling of wellness. It was a really good feeling of gracious and acceptance.”

 

“(Ray) thought he was having a builder interview, but it was so nice to see the look on his and his daughters’ faces when they realized what was happening,” Operation Finally Home Project Manager Ronnie Lyles said. “He no longer has to worry about a mortgage. It’s an honor to give back to someone who’s given so much.”

Odessa American

Thank you to Operation Finally  Home and Silver Leaf for Honoring our men and women who have sacrificed so much for us to enjoy the freedom we enjoy every day.