PulteGroup’s Southwest Florida Division Celebrates Built to Honor Home Dedication for Air Force Veteran
On a beautiful Friday morning in September, the PulteGroup Southwest Florida Division gathered at Lakespur at Wellen Park for a moving celebration, the dedication of a mortgage-free home for U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Daniel Beesting and his family. The ceremony marked a milestone moment in the Beestings' journey toward recovery and stability after years of service and sacrifice.
The day began with an unforgettable Welcome Home Parade, as the local Del Webb Lakewood Ranch Association of Veterans and Military Supporters led the Beesting family to their new homesite on motorcycles. Employees, trade partners, and community members lined the streets with American flags and pom poms, creating an emotional entrance for a family who had overcome so much. Adding to the day’s many heartwarming moments was a very special reunion. Ray Worley, a PulteGroup construction manager who assists in Lakespur, was surprised to discover at the groundbreaking event back in May that the recipient of this new Built to Honor home would be Technical Sergeant Beesting, a childhood friend he’d grown up with and remained close with their whole lives. Ray was there to celebrate with the Beesting family as they cut the ribbon on their new home and has since visited them a handful of times after moving in.
Technical Sergeant Beesting served nearly a decade in the U.S. Air Force following 9/11, facing challenging and life-threatening situations that resulted in service-related injuries both seen and unseen. After being honorably discharged in 2011, the family faced yet another devastating blow when Hurricane Ian destroyed their home in 2022.
Under a ceremony tent, speakers including Wes Copeland, VP of Procurement for PulteGroup's SWFL Division; Karen Veczko from Building Homes for Heroes; Rick Severance, President of Wellen Park; and Sarasota County Commissioner Teresa Mast shared heartfelt remarks honoring the Beesting family's resilience and sacrifice. Perhaps most touching was hearing from David, one of Technical Sergeant Beesting's best friends and a fellow Air Force veteran, who spoke to their shared journey of service. The ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting and key presentation, followed by the family stepping into their beautiful new four-bedroom home. The Beestings were so thrilled with their new home that they went back that very evening, grabbed toothbrushes, and spent their first night there before even moving their belongings in. A testament to how much this home means to them.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our partners at Building Homes for Heroes, the trade partners, construction team, and community members who made this dream a reality for the Beesting family. Welcome home!
For the last decade, PulteGroup’s Built to Honor® program has recognized and thanked returning military personnel who have been injured during their term of service by providing mortgage-free homes to veterans and their families. Launched in 2013, the program has built and donated over 80 homes, gifting more than $30 million in value, across the country. Built to Honor works in partnership with nonprofit organizations to identify veteran candidates. For more information about Built to Honor, go to builttohonor.org. Follow Built to Honor on Twitter: @BuiltToHonor and Facebook.com/BuiltToHonor.