PulteGroup Welcomes Army and Navy Veteran to New Home in Columbus Through Built to Honor® Program

On September 4, 2024, the Buckstone Bend Community in Lockbourne, Ohio, celebrated a special moment as Wendy Ward, a veteran of both the Army National Guard and Navy, received keys to her new mortgage-free home. PulteGroup's Built to Honor® program and Operation Homefront made this life-changing gift possible.

The event kicked off with a parade, featuring vehicles from Old Skool which represented participating trade partners, local first responders, PulteGroup representatives, and the Ward family. Members of the PulteGroup Columbus team, community leaders, neighbors, and trade partners lined the route, cheering on the procession.

The ceremony started with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem sung by one of PulteGroup's sales consultants, Gregg Herbst. A flag-raising ceremony conducted by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol added a patriotic touch, reminding everyone of the sacrifices made by veterans like Ward. Afterward, attendees gathered beneath a large tent – many wearing locally branded Built to Honor apparel to commemorate the day – to enjoy the ceremony. Speakers included the mayor of neighboring Obetz, Regan Huneycutt, Chief Development Officer of Operation Homefront, Jim Marcero, PulteGroup Columbus Division President, and Ms. Ward, herself.

One touching moment during the day came when representatives from the local school presented a card to Ward and her family from her granddaughter’s third-grade class, demonstrating the community's warm welcome. The highlight of the ceremony was Jim Marcero presenting Ward with her fully furnished mortgage-free home.

"I'm overwhelmed and beyond ecstatic," Ward expressed emotionally. "This is beyond my wildest dreams. I feel like we've been given a do-over... This is a new beginning for us and a new foundation for our life."

A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed, with Ward, her daughter Haley, grandkids Alanna and Thalia, Ward’s family and friends, PulteGroup Columbus division leaders, and veterans welcomed to participate. The reveal was broadcast live, allowing everyone to witness their joy while virtually going along for the tour as they experienced their new home for the first time. As Ward explored the house, her excitement was palpable, especially in the kitchen where she exclaimed, they'd be "cooking up a storm."

For the Ward family, this house in Buckstone Bend is more than just a place to live. It's a symbol of gratitude for her service, a fresh start, and a stable foundation for their future. "I'm just so grateful," Ward added, summing up the feeling of the day.