When the Hulsey family drove into Goldfield last Saturday in a vehicle convoy led by a moving truck, they were nervous but very excited. When they pulled up in front of a house in town near the Boone River, they were greeted by cheers and cries of “WELCOME HOME!” This was music to the ears of Sergeant Michael Hulsey and his family since they have never owned a home before, and wonderfully, this one would be mortgage-free.
The journey that led Hulsey and his family to Goldfield starts over 20 years ago when he joined the U.S. Army. Following in the footsteps of many family members, he enlisted in 2001. Over the next years, this led to multiple deployments in Iraq. During one of those deployments, he was wounded in action while supporting combat operations. Hulsey suffered back and traumatic brain injuries. Though he was subsequently deployed again to Afghanistan, his injuries had become too severe. Hulsey was eventually honorably discharged in 2011.
Sergeant Hulsey went on to receive the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. In the years that followed, Hulsey and his wife Meaghan, also an Army veteran, would raise a family. This would include three children, Austin, 18, Elizabeth, 17, and Wyatt, 7. Hulsey would also continue to require multiple surgeries and special treatments.
Throughout all of this, the Hulseys say that home ownership continued to be an elusive dream for them. Meaghan explained, “Over the years, we have just always had to rent. We tried to buy homes but so many things, like medical treatments, just got in the way.” Michael added, “Living on a fixed income with military retirement and disability, planning to buy a home was difficult.”
Yet, they knew owning a home was something their family needed. “We wanted to put down roots and have that stability for our kids,” said Meaghan.
Then, several months back, the Hulsey family learned about the organization Military Warriors Support Foundation’s (MWSF) Homes4WoundedHeroes program. Since 2010, MWSF has awarded over 900 mortgage-free homes in all 50 states through their Homes4WoundedHeroes and Homes4GoldStars program. In the case of the home in Goldfield, Wells Fargo Bank had donated the home to the organization. Wells Fargo has donated more than 400 homes since 2012 to veterans in all 50 states.
When the Hulsey family saw the home in Goldfield was available through the MWSF, they thought why not give it a try since they already had all the necessary paperwork. Meaghan Hulsey filled out an application and it was a matter of only a few days before they heard back that they had been awarded the home.
Last week, the Hulsey family traveled from where they were living in Tennessee and arrived at their new home in Goldfield. Representatives from MWSF and Wells Fargo were on hand to greet them as were various local dignitaries including Goldfield city council members and mayor Gabe Fiscus. A representative from Joni Ernst’s office read a statement from the senator. Another special guest was Dennis Britton, an Army buddy of Michael’s from Missouri that he had not seen in 12 years.
The Hulseys were overjoyed at the warm welcome. Michael thanked both MWSF and Wells Fargo and the community members for coming out. “This says a lot about the great community you have to see everyone here. We are truly blessed,” he emphasized.
As the family walked around their house for the very first time, they were already eagerly making plans for turning it into a true home. “We’ve never got to paint before. We’ve never really hung anything on the walls, since we were always renting,” said Meaghan. “Saying ‘thank you’ for all of this is really an understatement.”
Mayor Fiscus said the family will be a welcome addition to Goldfield. Fiscus noted, “We’re so happy that they picked Goldfield. I think they’ll have a great support system here and we’re happy to help the family out in whatever way we can.”
Andrea Dellinger, Senior Vice President of Military Warriors Support Foundation, added, “A huge part of the success for veterans like Michael and his family is the community wrapping their arms around them. He answered the call and now we can honor him.”
Dellinger also added that through MWSF, home recipients are provided with a family and financial mentor starting 3 years from the day the house is awarded. The mentor works together with the family to develop a plan for their success, communicate monthly, review budgets, credit reports and savings goals.
With their new home, the community behind them, and other supporting resources, the Hulsey family of Goldfield is well on the way to a bright future. “We are thrilled and excited,” stressed Meaghan Hulsey. “This gives us the security that we’ve been looking for for years.”
