Gary Sinise Foundation provides smart home to wounded Marine

about the large kitchen.

Maj. Burkett hopes that his home, which he and his wife named Stillwater, drawing inspiration from Psalm 23, will become a refuge for other wounded veterans. It has an extra fully accessible bedroom in the basement for visitors.

Other organizations involved in the smart home were the Semper Fi Fund, J.C. Penney, Home Depot and Hope for Warriors, which donated building materials and furniture. Maj. Burkett’s father, Rick Burkett, who founded a contracting company after his retirement from the Marines, served as general contractor for the project.

“It’s been a long journey,” Scott Schaeperkoetter, director of operations for the R.I.S.E. program, said to Maj. Burkett. “I hope this home gives you the dignity and independence you deserve while making your home easier for you and your family. Welcome home, buddy.”

In a letter written by Gary Sinise and read aloud at the dedication, Mr. Sinise wrote, “Too often we can take for granted the fact that our freedom and security is fought for, provided and sacrificed for … while we can never truly repay the debt we owe Eric, the house that stands before us today is a small symbol of our sincere gratitude to an American hero.”

Maj. Burkett was emotional as he expressed his gratitude toward the Gary Sinise Foundation, the community partners and his parents.

He plans to stay in this home for the rest of his life.

“It’s indescribable,” Maj. Burkett said. “It’s crazy to look back and think of the road that took us here. Not just to have a house where we can have a base and where we can put down roots, but we plan for this to be our forever home, to be our base, our Stillwater.”