It’s the American dream to have a home built on a foundation of love, and for one local family, that is literally the case.
Before the tile is laid and the dry wall is placed at their new Vail home, community members came together to show retired Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Liby and his family just how much they mean to not only Arizona, but their country.
In black, permanent marker messages from well-wishers were scrawled across the floors and the wall beams. They wrote their praises on bright red hearts that seemed to light up the bare bones of the future Liby home.
“As we work to build your new home, we want to extend our deepest gratitude for the bravery and sacrifices you’ve made for our nation,” wrote a member of the PulteGroup crew, which has teamed up with non-profit Built to Honor to build Liby, his wife, and three kids a mortgage-free home.
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“We hope your new home is a sanctuary for you and your family filled with happiness and memories. May this new chapter bring you endless joy.”
This is Pulte’s fourth Arizona partnership with Built to Honor, although the non-profit has been making the dreams of injured veterans come true for a decade, said Maren Bruner, the marketing director for PulteGroup Arizona Division.
Liby, who joined the military following his 1997 high school graduation, served in the Marines until December 2001. He later joined the Army in 2002.
It was during a tour to Afghanistan in 2008 when his life drastically changed.
Liby and his unit were clearing an area of IEDs when one exploded under the group’s Humvee.
The blast sent an armored door flying into Liby’s head, rendering him unconscious. He woke to find the Humvee upside down and burning.
Despite his injuries, Liby ran to help his team inside.
Liby sustained smoke burns to his lungs, his neck and back were injured and was wounded by shrapnel to his neck face and arms.
Eventually Liby was found to have permanent nerve damage in his left arm, a traumatic brain injury, carpal tunnel and a degenerative disc disease.
He was awarded the Purple Heart for his actions, among many other accolades he received during his time in the military.
It was no wonder so many words of gratitude had been etched around the family’s new house; a house already made a home.
“Honestly, being out here for me is so peaceful,” said Christina Liby, his wife.
“It feels like a warm embrace. Every aspect has been filled with love.”
Christina Liby’s eye glossed over with tears as she walked through the missing front door and into a half-built home already feeling like their own.
With their arms slung around each other, the couple moved around each room, silently reading the messages of support from strangers.
“My heart is full of gratitude for you and your family’s courage strength and dedication,” one message read.
Others simply welcomed the Liby family to their new home.
“It means a lot to have so much support,” Liby said, as he took in the moment.
For the Liby's children, Bentley, 13, Brooke, 18, and Conrad, 20, the race to choose their new rooms is already over, but there’s so much more Brooke can’t wait to do.
“I’m excited to make more memories,” she said with a smile.
And, come the beginning of the new year, when the furniture moves in and those well wishes are covered in carpet, she and the the rest of the Liby family will be able to do just that.
