Home At Last: Making a house a home

Elmer J. Rivera is anticipating the day he can move into his new home in Oakland, which is being built specifically for him and his medical needs. The retired U.S. Army captain and his family will reside in the eighth mortgage-free home provided by the nonprofit Home At Last program.

“Capt. Rivera is a very deserving individual,” Gary Atwill, HAL chairman, said. “He had multiple deployments to various locations during his service in the U.S. Army. Capt. Rivera was severely wounded as a result of a mortar attack in Iraq. He was highly decorated as a result of his service to our country.”

Rivera and his wife, Leyda; their three children, 13-year-old Paola and 15-year-olds Elmer Gabrielle and Elmer Jose; plus a service dog named Freedom and Kiko the family dog, are living in Puerto Rico, where he is from, until their home on Briley Avenue is completed in June.

Their neighbors will be Seann and Stacy Windfield and their four children, also recipients of a Home At Last house.

LIVING A DREAM

All homes built by the organization are between 2,500 and 3,000 square feet in size. The interior is designed to meet the individual and specific needs of each veteran, Atwill said, and all are ADA compliant.

Although Rivera gets around without a wheelchair, the house is designed to accommodate one in case he requires one in the future. The layout of their home was designed to simplify his mobility.

The retired Army captain said he heard about the Home At Last program a few years ago from his Army Wounded Warrior case manager, and he decided to apply.

In October 2015, Rivera learned his family was chosen when he received a call from Atwill.

“We could not believe what was happening,” Rivera said. “It was like living a dream. Too many emotions are going through our minds.”

He said he waited a few weeks, until Thanksgiving Day, to tell his children and other family members the exciting news.

“It was a real blessing and a huge reason to say thanks,” he said.

His children were eager to find out as much as possible about their new community, researching the local schools, sports activities and teams and the theme parks.

Rivera and his wife are ready for a fresh start in Oakland.

“My family has been my backbone, my everything,” he said. “They have been there from me from Day 1. Without family support, you cannot make it through in the military. They have been instrumental in my recovery.”

When the Riveras move to Florida, they will be close to a brother in Kissimmee and other family members living in Tampa, so familial support will be nearby.

With seven other retired wounded warriors living in Oakland, an automatic support system has already been established.

“I think this will be great since we can support each other as we can relate in the different situations we encounter individually and as families,” Rivera said. “Hopefully, I can be a mentor and help in any way I can.”

HOME OF HEROES

Oakland was referred to as the Home of Heroes during the groundbreaking ceremony March 18 to signify the start of construction on the Riveras’ home. And the person who spoke those words certainly knows a thing or two about heroes.

Jay Garner, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, lives in Windermere and was asked to speak at the ceremony.

“It is a fitting designation since all eight of the Home At Last veteran homes are located in Oakland,” Atwill said. “The town of Oakland is a warm and welcoming environment for our veterans and their families. The recipients of the homes are all combat-wounded veterans who served our country well.”

Oakland Mayor Kathy Stark said she is proud to have so many veterans living in the town.

SERVICE TO COUNTRY

Elmer J. Rivera was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In addition to graduating from many military courses, Rivera holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering from Norwich University and a master's degree in business from University of Phoenix.

Upon graduation from Norwich in 1995, he was commissioned a Military Police second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Rivera served in a variety of units throughout his 13-year military career. His assignments included duty with the 301st Military Police Company, 338th Finance Battalion, U.S. Army Garrison Command - Military Police Detachment, U.S. Army Southern Command, 65th Regional Support Command and the 16th Military Police Brigade (ABN).

He served in numerous positions as a commissioned officer, including platoon leader, company commander, executive officer and anti-terrorism officer.

His deployments include Task Force Aurora, in Guatemala (2000); Operation Noble Eagle, at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico (2001-2003); and Operation Iraqi Freedom, in Iraq (2004).

He was deployed to Iraq as the commander of the 301st Military Police Company to perform detainee and military police combat operations in the notorious Abu Ghraib Prison. After the prison abuse scandal, Rivera said, the 301st MP took charge of the Tier 1A of the prison, which housed the high-value detainees and other important Intel assets.

He was tasked with setting up a visitation and reception area for the detainees to visit with family.

The prison was the target of a massive mortar attack in October 2004, and Rivera was severely injured with mortar shrapnel to his abdominal area. He required more than 18 surgeries, including a colostomy, gastrectomy and splenectomy and the placement of a permanent abdominal mesh. He was also diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Contact Amy Quesinberry at [email protected].