Michael Praats | Valdosta Daily TimesThe Walden family cuts the ribbon before moving into their new home.

 VALDOSTA, Ga. — Friends, family and community members gathered Wednesday afternoon to welcome an Army veteran, Sgt. 1st Class Willie Walden Jr. to his new mortgage-free home in Lowndes County.

Operation Finally Home is an organization established in 2005 to provide custom-built, mortgage-free homes to American soldiers and the widows of fallen heroes. The organization partnered with Wilson Design & Construction to design and build the home for Walden and his family.

Walden joined the military in 2003 as a combat medic and served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. His service record includes an Afghanistan campaign medal, Iraq campaign medal, a Meritorious Service medal and more. 

Walden suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after his 11-year service as a combat medic as well as injuries to his knees and shoulders, according to the organization. 

The Walden family learned it would receive a new house during the 2015 Winnersville Classic football game in October and ground was broken the next day. Walden, his wife, Tanesha, and their two daughters were overcome with gratitude during the dedication ceremony, according to the family. 

The house is the first of its kind in Lowndes County but the companies have already offered to build a similar house in the area, said Todd Wilson of Wilson Design & Construction. 

Walden and his family saw the home for the first time at the ceremony.

“We owe our gratitude to you, not the other way around … you have already paid for this home,” Wilson said to Walden. 

The family participated in a welcoming ceremony followed by the first entrance into the house.

Walden spoke about his first reaction to seeing the home and all he could say was, “Oh my God, that was the first thing I thought when I saw the house … I received the biggest blessing in the world, it feels to me like you’re living in a dream. It’s something that I never imagined.”

Walden also expressed appreciation to the entire community coming together to build the house and welcome his family.

“It’s something that you can’t even believe, to see a community come together for a family … thank you from me and my family,” Walden said. 

Walden and his wife learned they are expecting a baby boy at about the same time they learned they would receive a house. The timing of everything was incredible, he said. 

More information about Operation Finally Home, visit www.operationfinallyhome.org.

Michael Praats is a reporter at the Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229) 244-3400 ext. 1257.