BAKFC Holds Ground Breaking For New Home Of Local Veteran
WARSAW — On Nov. 19 it was announced to US Army SSG Justin Raymer that he and his family would be returning home to Warsaw from Georgia thanks to Operation Finally Home, the Builders Association of Kosciusko Fulton Counties and R.W. Kidd Construction.
The chilly afternoon of March 4, a groundbreaking was held at the home’s future location at 2613 E. Ontario Lane, Warsaw. Sam Beachy of BAKC, John Kidd of R.W. Kidd Construction, Mayor Joe Thallemer, commissioner Brad Jackson and Operation Finally Home’s Ronnie Lyles all spoke.
“Being here today is a culmination of a community coming together,” said Thallemer, “[at the initial BAKFC meeting] I could tell this was gonna happen.”
“I’m grateful to be part of this,” said Kidd.
Raymer grew up in Warsaw and his father is the assistant fire chief for the Winona Lake Fire Department. He joined the Indiana National Guard in Warsaw in 2000 and was deployed to Iraq in 2002. He later entered active duty with the Army in 2006, with assignments in Germany, South Korea and Fort Benning, Ga. He was combat deployed two more times. Through his service, he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge and several other awards before he was medically retired on June 27, 2015.
Raymer and his wife, Kaci, have been living in Georgia. They have been wanting to move home to Warsaw but, before this opportunity, it wasn’t financially possible.
Kaci said the new home will be make a huge impact for their blended family of five kids — Michael, Dillon, Stella, Brooklyn and Katy. “I know all of our kids are excited…the house isn’t going to stay new for long!” Kaci joked at the groundbreaking ceremony. “We really appreciate what everyone is doing for our family. This is amazing. To put it into words, I don’t think you can.”
The home is planned to be finished before the 2017-18 school year so the children can easily transition into school.