This summer, Drees Homes was honored to present a veteran and his family with the keys to their brand-new home at Brightleaf at the Park in Durham, North Carolina.

Drees, along with the nonprofit Operation Coming Home, held a Key Ceremony, complete with parachuting delivery, in honor of retired US Army Staff Sgt. Michael Kacer.

The ceremony took place outside of the Kacers’ new home and was held in partnership with the US Veterans Corps and Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County. Greenhawk Development provided the home site in one of Durham’s most desired master planned communities.

Kacer, who was severely injured while deployed in 2008, is heavily involved in athletics for wounded veterans. He has made Paralympic Track and Field Nationals every year since 2011 and has also medaled in three events at the inaugural Invictus Games in London and four events at Orlando’s Invictus Games. He now uses his platform to speak about mental health and suicide prevention.

The project resonated with Drees Homes Division President Jerry Dean, as his son is in the military. Dean expressed gratitude to Kacer for serving our country. “Completing a hero home is quite different than completing a regular home … more than anything, you want to make sure you do the most phenomenal job, because these heroes put their lives on the line for all of us,” Dean said.

Drees built the Dawn floor plan, which was outfitted with unique features designed to suit Kacer’s lifestyle. The home features modifications like double handrails, a zero-entrance shower and 36” wide doors.

Market Manager Amanda Arlauskas, whose fiancé is currently serving in the military, guided the Kacer family though the home building journey. Drees Builder (and a veteran himself) Mark McCraw managed the build.

We can’t thank our team and trade partners enough for coming together to make this next chapter possible for the Kacer family. We wish Michael, Jessica and their daughter Jordyn the best as they settle into their new home!

Learn more

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We invite you to watch the video below and relive the excitement of the experience: