By Olivia Burton, Kentucky National Guard Family Programs
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Staff Sgt. Cade Shackelford with his girlfriend Erin Diaz and their 7 month old daughter Isabella outside their new home. Home Builders Care, the nonprofit arm of The Home Builders Association of Lexington dedicated the "Home for a Veteran" to Shackelford and his new family Jan. 25, 2016 in Lexington, Ky. (Photo Credit: HBA, HBC)]
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- On a cold January day in Lexington, a Kentucky veteran and his family felt nothing but warmth as they stepped into their brand new home. Staff Sgt. Cade Shackelford with his girlfriend Erin Diaz and their 7-month-old daughter Isabella were chosen for the “Home for a Veteran” building project.
Spearheading the effort was Home Builders Care, a non-profit arm of the Home Builders Association of Lexington. With immense community support, donated labor and materials, a veteran and his family earned the low-mortgage home to honor his service to the United States Military.
City council members, volunteers and friends took part in a dedication ceremony to present this new home to Shackelford and his family.
“It’s hard to believe that we broke ground on this new home on the hottest day of the year last summer and here we are today after a sizeable snow storm,” said David Briggs, President of the Home Builders Association of Lexington. “We are truly honored to provide this home to Cade and his family.”
Shackelford is an active member of the Kentucky National Guard who served in several overseas tours in the Middle East. He is currently serving as a military police officer with the 940th Military Police Company and plans to remain in service until his retirement.
“Saying thank you sometimes you just can’t put into words," he said. "What everybody has done, what time they’ve donated, what materials they’ve donated, I just can’t express the amount of gratitude that me and my family have for you guys. From the bottom of my heart, from my family to yours, thank you."
Click here to watch the dedication ceremony in its entirety.
Photos of the dedication event and the home can be found here.