Marine veteran surprised

After 13 years David Long is finally home. On Thursday, Long walked into his mortgage-free home in Walkertown thanks to a partnership between Truist and the Military Warriors Support Foundation (MWSF). USMC Sgt. Long, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served from 2005 to 2009, was very appreciative and at times speechless at the very well attended welcome home ceremony and procession on Thursday morning.
At the ceremony, a tearful Long spoke to those in attendance.
“I am very grateful. I can’t find the words. You (those in attendance) are here for a reason. Because I Iove you,” Long said.
In an interview later in the day Long again voiced his appreciation.
“Honestly, I can’t put it into words. Since I left home after graduating from high school I have not had a place to call home until now. Like I told the panel, being grateful is all I can say,” said Long. “I love it. It is home and I am very grateful for that.”
Long received a law enforcement escort from the Walkertown Fire Department and had an honor guard at the event.
“It was overwhelming for sure. I was surprised when I came in and saw all the cars on the road. That is when it began to sink in and I knew it was real. To see the number of folks there was overwhelming,” Long said.
During his time in service Long was deploy three times to Iraq and Afghanistan and he sustained injuries in his first tour in Iraq. He earned several awards while in service, including a Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon. Long was recently voted in as the Jr. Vice Commander at the VFW in Kernersville.
“Getting veterans in has been a huge part of my days. I am really just doing outreach right now. I want to make sure my time is dedicated to those who went before us,” said Long.
The process that made Long’s mortgage-free home started a while ago. Essentially, MWSF identifies the wounded warriors for the home program and Truist stands behind them.
“I came in contact with MWSF through another veteran that introduced me to them four or five years ago. Then I went online. Being a Purple Heart recipient qualified me for the home program. I forwarded my application, and then I got a call in December and they informed me I had qualified for the home. From there, it was at their discretion, what they could do and what I needed to do,” said Long.
Former U.S. armed forces veterans, Truist officials and MWSF representatives were key ceremony speakers at the event. U.S. The speakers were USMC Sgt. Maj. Paul Berry, U.S. BG Norman Cooling, U.S. Air Force veteran and MWSF Senior Vice President Andrea Dillinger, Truist Market Execution & Teammate Enablement and U.S. Army veteran Shawn Lough, Truist Mortgage President Todd Chamberlain and Long.
“Our purpose at Truist is to inspire and build better lives and communities. That purpose could not be more in line with things like this, with people who served and sacrificed,” Chamberlain said.
This was the 13th house that Truist has given away mortgage-free by working with the MWSF and it is a practice Truist plans to continue.
The only hitch in the proceeds was a planned parachute drop by a team flying over from the all veteran group. Unfortunately, the wind conditions made the planned parachute drop too dangerous to attempt.
Long also received another pleasant surprise on Thursday. Now that he has his own yard to mow at his new home, he will be receiving a free riding lawn mower.