11/8/14 UPDATE: Photos from the event
Meet Our New Santa Fe Hills – San Marcos Neighbor: USMC Corporal Joshua Lopez
On April 2, 2012, USMC Corporal Joshua Lopez of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment was severely injured in Afghanistan when he stepped on an IED. He was medivaced to Forward Operating Base Edi in the Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan after the incident. With constant pain and limited function in his right leg, Corporal Lopez opted to undergo a procedure to amputate the right leg rather than try to salvage the limb. He also suffered severe injuries to his left leg and right hand, and is being evaluated for TBI. He is currently hospitalized at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
(The Union Tribune released a story about Corporal Lopez on November 6, 2014 that you can read here.)
Below are photos of Joshua, his wife Jennifer, and son Joshua, Jr.
Corporal Joshua Lopez with son Joshua, Jr.
Corporal Joshua Lopez prior to his decision to have right leg amputated.
Corporal Joshua Lopez, wife Jennifer, and son Joshua, Jr.
Corporal Joshua Lopez is welcomed home by family.
ORIGINAL EVENT INFO from NOV 2014
Join local military, fire, police, color guards, scouts and fellow members of the community to celebrate and welcome injured HERO veteran USMC Corporal Joshua Lopez and family to their new Santa Fe Hills – San Marcos home! Building Homes for Heroes® is gifting this home, mortgage free, to the Lopez family. Besides the one-time thumbs up from the Lopez family that the home and neighborhood is perfect for their family, this will be the first time the Lopez family really sees their new home. The home has been since been modified by Building Homes for Heroes® to accommodate Joshua’s injuries.
The event is free and put on by Building Homes for Heroes®. Bring your family and friends to let the Lopez family know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice. This will be a great chance to meet the Lopez family as well as other neighbors, military and first responders from around San Marcos.
When: Saturday, November 8, 2014
- 06:45AM – Shuttles begin taking early attendees and volunteers to celebration site.
- 9:00AM – Free Coffee, Doughnuts, Hats, T-Shirts
- 9:45AM – Procession begins – Military, Fire, Police, Color guards, Cub/Girl Scouts escort the Lopez family from Paloma Elementary to their new home (a few blocks away).
- 10:00AM – Ceremony, then tours of the Lopez home
- 11:00AM – Free Lunch Will Be Served
Where: Please park at or near Paloma Elementary. There will be 2-3 shuttles taking attendees to celebration site. Shuttles start at 6:45AM.
- Paloma Elementary is located at 660 Camino Magnifico, San Marcos, CA 92069 (Map).
- If you live in Santa Fe Hills and would like to walk, skip the shuttle and get the actual address in Santa Fe Hills Nextdoor. (There will be no parking near the home).
Who is invited? Everybody! If you are reading this post, you are invited.
What is Building Homes for Heroes®? Building Homes for Heroes® builds or modifies homes, and gifts them, mortgage-free, to veterans and their families. They are strongly committed to rebuilding lives and supporting the brave men and women who were injured while serving the country during the time of the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. After gifting 17 mortgage-free homes in 2013, Building Homes for Heroes® expects to gift 25 homes in 2014, and approximately 40 homes in 2015.
Learn More: To learn more about the event or if you would like to volunteer or donate food, call Shari at: 210-870-4813. To learn more about Homes for Heroes, visit www.buildinghomesforheroes.org
