The Tunnels to Towers Foundation has fully paid off the mortgage of a Gold Star family from Killeen.
KILLEEN, Texas — A national nonprofit organization has paid off the mortgage of a Killeen Gold Star family in honor of Gold Star Spouses Day.
The Tunnels to Towers Foundation has announced that it has paid in full the mortgage of the Gold Star family of Army Staff Sergeant Louis DePan.
The Tunnels to Towers Gold Star Family Home Program is meant to “honor the legacy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice” in service to the United States by providing mortgage-free homes to surviving Gold Star spouses and children, the organization said.
SSgt. DePan enlisted in the Army in 2004 while in high school, deploying to the Middle East the following year, according to Tunnels to Towers. Over the next 17 years, DePan deployed nine times and earned numerous honors such as the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the organization said.
DePan died in September 2021 from injuries sustained in an accident, according to Tunnels to Towers. He is survived by his wife Courtney and their two children, who now have a mortgage-free home thanks to the organization.
“It gives us stability and security, knowing that we will always have a place to call home no matter what,” Courtney DePan said. “It also allows us to focus on healing, growth and being present with each other. It’s not just about the financial help, it’s about being seen, remembered and honored. It reminds us that our loved one’s sacrifice is not forgotten, and that our family is supported by a community that truly understands and cares.”
“For nearly two decades, Louis DePan answered the call to serve, deploying time and again to defend our nation,” said Tunnel to Towers Chairman and CEO Frank Siller. “While we can never repay that sacrifice, we can honor it by standing with his family and ensuring they always have a safe and secure place to call home.”