Shirts, supporting the Operation Finally Home build for SSG Justin Raymer and his family, are available for sale. Pictured from left at the Notes of Love event are Ronnie Lyles, Operation Finally Home project manager; John Kidd, R.W. Kidd Construction and the builder of record for the project, in addition to being the committee chairman; and Trisha Steger, executive director of the Builders Association of Kosciusko Fulton Counties. (Photo by Sarah Wright)

Warsaw’s Operation Finally Home building project marked another milestone today, June 10, with its “Notes of Love” event. A staple for Operation Finally Home — a national, non-profit organization with a unique network of experienced builders, suppliers, and supporters dedicated to building homes for wounded, ill or injured veterans, surviving spouses and their families — this event allows community members and those participating in the build to come out and write notes to the veterans and their family members who will be receiving a home, either on paper or with markers on the exposed frame of the home.

Notes of Love appeared throughout the custom-built, mortgage-free home being built for Warsaw native SSG Justin Raymer and his family. Some visitors also used markers to write on the wood frame of the home. (Photo by Sarah Wright)

Today’s notes were written to SSG Justin Raymer, a Warsaw native, and his family, who will be receiving a custom-built, mortgage-free home in Warsaw’s Shadow Lakes subdivision. The home will allow the family to finally return home to Indiana from Georgia.

Trisha Steger, executive officer of the Builders Association of Kosciusko Fulton Counties, said the event had seen a steady stream of people coming to write notes. Some of the notes thanked Raymer for his service, others simply welcomed the family home. Children

A child left this artistic “Welcome home” for SSG Justin Raymer and his family. (Photo by Sarah Wright)

who visited the build site also added the extra touch of artwork to their notes.

“We’d had a veteran stop in earlier,” Steger said, noting the man had been visiting garage sales in the subdivision when he decided to pop in.

Notes of Love will be the last event prior to the dedication ceremony, where Raymer and his family will be presented with the keys to the home. This event will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. The home will then be a part of the BAKFC’s Homes on Parade, Sept. 15-17. The BAKFC will also be set up at Warsaw’s First Fridays events from July to August, Blues & BBQ Fest, Rockin’ for Riley and the Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce golf outing, raising awareness for both the build and Operation Finally Home.

Raymer and his family were able to view the notes privately today after the event closed to the public. While drywalling will be covering up the notes within the next week or two, their sentiments will remain for years to come.

OPERATION FINALLY HOME

Donations can still be made to help with the Raymer building project. Text “Warsaw” to 41444, or visited www.operationfinally.org. To donate materials or serve as a skilled labor volunteer, contact the BAKFC at (574) 267-6125.

If you are a wounded, ill or injured veteran, or surviving spouse and their families, or know someone who is, Operation Finally Home has more builders and suppliers looking to help with builds than veterans. A form can be found at the nonprofit’s website, https://www.operationfinallyhome.org/contact/.

The home being built for SSG Justin Raymer and his family is well underway and was opened to the public today so that they could leave Notes of Love for the family. (Photo by Sarah Wright)