George Strait honored a U.S. military veteran in a special way during a recent concert.
Strait presented Purple Heart recipient, former U.S. Army Sergeant Mike Hulsey, and his wife Meaghan with a mortgage-free home during his December 2 Strait To Vegas show at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Strait presented Hulsey with the mortgage-free home in partnership with the Military Warriors Support Foundation.
The foundation’s founder and CEO Retired Lt. General Leroy Sisco helped Strait make the presentation.
“I want to introduce you to a hero on [this] stage tonight,” Sisco said of Sergeant Hulsey amid cheers from the crowd in attendance. “This hero was shot in the leg, then he was blown up three different times with an IED blast. He shattered his backbone, his neck and all that. And for all that to be fixed, [the doctors] had to replace his hips, both of them. And he did all of that for our freedom,” he continued as the crowd cheered again.
Sisco then shared that he and Strait were going to do something special for Sergeant Hulsey and his family, including his wife, Megan: give them a beautiful, mortgage-free home. Strait then handed Hulsey a large key symbolizing the gesture, which he proudly held up.
Besides the Military Warriors Support Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank generously donated the house to the Homes4WoundedHeroes program, which provided the mortgage-free home for Sergeant Hulsey and his family.
And as it turns out, Sergeant Hulsey wasn’t the only person to receive a gift onstage during the concert. Sisco presented Strait with a custom belt buckle bearing the names of all the veterans he’s helped through his partnership with the Military Warriors Support Foundation.
According to the foundation’s official website, Strait, who is a veteran himself, has worked with them for 10 years to provide mortgage-free homes to both veterans wounded in combat and Gold Star families. Strait’s partnership with the foundation has spanned 32 states, resulting in the opportunity to present around 90 homes to U.S. veterans and their families.
View this post on Instagram
“We are so thankful for our partnership with George Strait and for him allowing us to honor our heroes in this way,” Sisco said.
Strait usually brings each veteran who’s receiving a home onstage during a concert before making the big reveal, the foundation’s website also indicated. Having them stand center stage is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to celebrate their service with Strait and his fans.
“Seeing everybody standing up and cheering for those who protect our freedom is amazing,” the foundation’s Executive Director Ken Eakes said. “To be there, around all these folks that appreciate America so much, makes you understand how much people really do care about our military. It’s something this country still supports and understands why it’s so important for our freedom,” he added.
Sisco founded the Military Warriors Support Foundation in 2007. Since the foundation was created, Sisco and his team have awarded over 900 mortgage-free homes across the U.S. In addition, the foundation has awarded 130 payment-free vehicles to veterans.
Following Strait’s Dec. 2 concert in Nevada, the foundation shared a video of the moment Sergeant Hulsey learned he’d be receiving a mortgage-free home to their Instagram account, writing, they had an “amazing time” delivering the news.
View this post on Instagram
Aside from his work with the Military Warriors Support Foundation, Strait announced a 2023 six-date stadium tour with fellow country singer, Chris Stapleton.
