GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY HONORS START OF NEW PERRY HOME THROUGH HELPING A HERO.ORG FOR A LOCAL TEXAS SOLDIER, SGT JAVIER NEGRETE, US ARMY (RET)

Javier Negrete was born in Mexico and became an orphan at the age of 14 when his father died (he lost his mother when he was 11 to pancreatic cancer). He moved to the United States to live with an uncle in Beaumont, Texas. After graduating from high school, he joined the Army where he quickly distinguished himself as a leader and a patriot. He had always wanted to wear the uniform and was so proud to serve. His superior officers could not say enough good things about the commitment of this young man to his fellow soldiers and to his country. He was quickly promoted within the Army ranks and in two short years became a Sergeant.

He served in Iraq from April 2003 until March 2005 where he primarily did reconnaissance missions. He raided houses for weapons, guarded security trucks carrying money. He escorted high-level officials from the airport throughout Baghdad. Almost every day they encountered gun fights, mortar attacks, RPG attacks and had to be very vigilant in order to survive. While on leave, he was in a motor vehicle accident that left him with a Traumatic Brain Injury and severe spinal cord injuries. He has been in focused rehabilitation for the past three years and continues today. He is also contending with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

On Tuesday, August 19th, a ground-breaking ceremony in the community of Shadow Creek Ranch in the City of Pearland will honor Sergeant Javier Negrete, USA (Ret.) and celebrate the start of a new home and a new start for him. Thanks to the Helping a Hero Wounded Hero Home Program, the Houston Rotary District 5890, Shadow Creek Ranch and Perry Homes, the construction will begin for a beautiful new home for this returning hero.

Shadow Creek Ranch Development'sdonation of the home site in its master-planned Shadow Creek Ranch community and Perry Homes'scommitment to build a new home there made the program even more rewarding for this precious hero who will soon have a new home that meets all the specially adapted needs of this soldier. It will have wider doors, tiled and wood floors, roll in shower, roll under sink, adapted water closet, lower counters in the kitchen, ADA access to the home, and a sloped garage that will enable him to roll right into his home.

Gary Liardon with Perry Homes said, "Perry Homes is pleased to participate in the Helping a Hero Wounded Hero Home Program. This is the 5th home we will be partnering with this great organization to build for our injured soldiers. We are very honored to build a home for someone who has sacrificed so much for our freedom."

Building the home in Shadow Creek Ranch will offer Javier close access to the world's largest medical and research complex at the Texas Medical Center just approximately 12 minutes north on Highway 288. Shadow Creek Ranch is the closest master-planned community to the Texas Medical Center and Houston'sCentral Business District. The 3,500-acre Shadow Creek Ranch includes over 700 acres of open space including 300 acres of lakes and 400 acres of greenbelts, parks and trails offering scenic views from almost every vantage point in the community.

'We are so honored to be part of the Helping a Hero Wounded Hero Home Program,"says Drew Pelter, general manager of Shadow Creek Ranch. "Like so many of our wounded soldiers, Javier has sacrificed so much for his country and we are proud welcome him to our community."

Meredith Iler, National Chairman of the Helping a Hero Wounded Hero Home Program said, "We are so proud of Javier Negrete who recently became a United States citizen. He is so proud to have served with honor and valor and we are equally proud of his service and sacrifice. Javier is an American patriot who loves this country so deeply. We are honored to give back to someone who served so valiantly."

The new home is planned for completion this November for Javier Negrete who was such a great leader for his unit in Iraq and who received a list of honors that include a USA Presidential Unit Citation, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and a National Defense Service Medal. For more information on the Helping a Hero.org'sWounded Hero Home Program, visit the website at www.helpingahero.org.