Commissioner Joseph Supports Home For Our Troops
- 7 February 2025
- Category: District 4
- Tags: 2025
St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Chair Krista Joseph, District 4 represented the BCC at the Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) Community Kickoff for Army SGT Sean Karpf on Saturday, January 25, at The Village Church located in St. Augustine. The Office of Public Affairs produced a brief recap of the ceremony.
The ceremony included Presentation of the Colors by St. Augustine HS Army JROTC, the National Anthem by Kristina Olesky; and remarks by Jocelyn Phipps, HFOT Community Engagement Coordinator; Cydney Parker, Regional Director, US Senator Rick Scott’s Office; Kim Kendall, FL State House of Representatives, District 18; Krista Joseph, St. Johns County Commissioner District 4; Adam Bruce, North FL District Manager, ABC Supply; Don Karpf, Grandfather of Army SGT Sean Karpf); Marine LCpl Brandon Long, a HFOT Home Recipient; and Bill Ivey, Executive Director, HFOT.
Inspired by his uncle’s military service, Sean Karpf was proud to serve his country when he enlisted in 2007. On June 15, 2012, Army Sergeant Karpf was serving as an Infantry paratrooper with Company C, 1-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division in Kandahar, Afghanistan when he was injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast. He sustained the loss of his left leg below the knee, back injuries, tinnitus, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). A specially adapted custom home from HFOT with a walkway around the entire house will allow Sean to be in his wheelchair more often, as well as get in and out of the house safely and easily. The mortgage-free home will provide the opportunity to grow the family business. “This home is opening doors to the future,” he says.
HFOT is a publicly funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. Most of these Veterans have sustained injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, blindness, severe burns, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents out of every dollar spent has gone directly to our program services for Veterans. HFOT builds these homes where the Veteran chooses to live, and continues its relationship with the Veterans after home delivery to assist them with rebuilding their lives.