by Nicholas Filipas
After flying over 140 combat missions and 64 air raids over the skies of Afghanistan and Iraq, decorated U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Luke Van Dorston and his family can call King’s Chapel in Arrington their new home base.
With his wife Abby, their two-year old son and a handful of family members present, the Van Dorston’s waited a year to walk inside their new custom-built French country-style house and did so Thursday afternoon thanks to Operation FINALLY HOME. Along to present the family with the keys were Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson, and representatives of Carbine & Associates and LP Building Products who helped create the three-bedroom, two bath residence, complete with a large attic and deck. Nearby neighbors welcomed the family with house-warming gifts and even a four-wheel toy cart for the child who rode around on it immediately.
Country music superstar Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn was also present, a host of the radio station American Country Countdown in North Carolina and active partner of Operation FINALLY HOME.
“There’s not a day that goes by that me and most of everybody that I know [in the entertainment industry] really appreciate what you’re doing like most all Americans do,” he said, “I know you would never ask for help but thanks to [the sponsors] in their generosity in what they did. Welcome to the hood!”
Van Dorston, 33, is a highly decorated combat veteran who also directed 194 Close Air Support missions. He served at the Interservice Military Free Fall School in Arizona and instructed over 500 Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force and Allied Forces special operations. Van Dorston merited two bronze stars: one for heroism. He suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and in 2011 was diagnosed with a brain tumor that still requires continued treatments. Van Dorston and another combat veteran learned they would be getting new homes during the CMA Music Festival concert last summer at LP Field.
Standing on the front lawn, Mr. and Mrs. Van Dorston were all smiles as the yearlong wait was finally over. Tomorrow they will begin moving in their belongings. “This day finally came,” said Mr. Van Dorston holding onto his house keys tight. “I’m ready.”
The home was built thanks to Operation FINALLY HOME, a nonpartisan/nonprofit organization with the mission of creating custom-built and mortgage-free homes to American war veterans and to widows of soldiers who gave their lives to protect our country around the world. Operation FINALLY HOME teams up with several corporate sponsors, builder associations, developers, builders and volunteers to help military families find a permanent home. The Van Dorston’s is the 52nd completed project since 2005 with 70 more homes on tap for completion over 18 months. To learn more about Operation FINALLY HOME and how you can help, visit their website: www.operationfinallyhome.org.
