Myrtle Beach community welcomes veteran to new, donated home

There may have been no one more excited Friday when a new house in Pulte Homes Berkshire Forest community was unveiled to the Shawn Whitmore family than little Alexis who could hardly wait her chance to climb on the playground equipment in her new backyard.

First, the 4 year old had to sit through a dedication ceremony followed by a tour that provided a first look inside the fully furnished home built for the U.S. Army staff sergeant, his wife Tracey and their five children. The home construction was a project of Operation Finally Home (OFH), an organization that helps disabled American war veterans find housing.

Filled with emotion, Shawn Whitmore thanked everyone on behalf of his family.

“Service was an honor and a true calling and mine was the Army,” the son of a career military man said. “When I enlisted, it was one of the best days of my life.”

He said his new best day would be waking up in the new six-bedroom, five-bath house.

The Whitmores’ journey began in September when their surprise selection to receive a mortgage-free house was announced by OFH at a Myrtle Beach Pelicans baseball game. PulteGroup’s Coastal Carolinas division took the lead on construction of the Whitmore home, which is the 31st project PulteGroup has collaborated on with OFH through its Built to Honor program.

There was no lack of pomp and circumstance Friday as some 100 students from River Oaks Elementary School, the Myrtle Beach Navy JROTC color guard and a host of neighbors and media lined the street outside the house awaiting arrival of the family by limousine. Members of the Patriot Guard Riders who later presented a flag line during the ceremony escorted the car. A very patriotic presentation under a tent that began with the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem culminated with a meal served up by Myrtle Beach City Councilman Mike Chestnut, owner of Big Mike’s Soul Food.

Just prior to the family’s arrival, Pulte’s division president Charlie Tipton said it was the generosity of the community that made the construction of the home possible. He said $27,000 was raised through a charity golf tournament and a silent auction. Numerous local businesses and Pulte trade partners also pitched in to help with expenses.

“It has just been an incredible three months,” Tipton said. “I am absolutely amazed at the generosity and support from the community and local businesses here in Myrtle Beach. We are so excited to turn the home over to the family today just in time for the holidays.”

Horry County Council Chairman Mark Lazarus told the students, “some day you will look back on this ceremony and remember someone who gave so much for this country.”

Lazarus, owner of Wild Water and Wheels water park, then presented the family with a season pass to the park.

Lee Kirgan, vice president of construction for OFH, followed with a welcome to the family saying it had been an “honor and a privilege” to provide homes for America’s war veterans like Whitmore.

“We owe our freedom, our way of life, to those who go out and fight battles for us,” Kirgan said. He also recognized the spouses of veterans who serve every day and help the “transition of being a warrior to being a regular citizen again.”

Following the formal presentations, new neighbor Hector Ramos approached the family to present them with a $500 check from the Veteran Security Police Association and a $250 gift card from Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 925. Ramos said he was there with his wife, Yolanda, as a neighbor and to extend a warm welcome from the VVA. Also, inside, a Christmas tree was filled with gift cards from businesses from all around town.

Whitmore was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg from 2006 to 2014 before taking a medical retirement. During three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, he twice survived bouts with mortar rockets and improvised explosive devises that left him with a brain injury. He has undergone dozens of surgeries with more expected in the future and the injuries have affected his memory.

In addition to Alexis, the couple’s children include Jonathon, 14, Austin, 13, Hailey, 10, and Ian, 8. Shawn Whitmore also has a service dog. Similar to the TV show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” each child’s room was specially decorated with items that interest them, including a room decorated by the Pelicans complete with a wall mural of a baseball game. The second floor includes a central playroom complete with TV and video games.

This story was originally published December 11, 2015 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Myrtle Beach community welcomes veteran to new, donated home."