Major Eric Burkett was two weeks into his sixth combat deployment when his V-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft crashed in North Africa on April 11, 2012. He was one of only two Marines who survived the crash.

Burkett has spent the six years since the crash trying to recover as he has undergone countless operations, including the amputation of his second leg earlier this year. Thankfully, earlier this summer, Burkett got some of his independence back when the Gary Sinise Foundation built a fully furnished, wheelchair accessible, specially adapted smart home for him and his family.

On June 14, Flag Day, Burkett and his wife Melissa moved into the home with their six children. Burkett is able to use an iPad to operate every part of the house and reach areas he couldn’t access from his wheelchair.

“I just want to say a quick thank you to everybody that came out to everybody that participated in this project, that prayed for us, that was with us along the way,” Melissa said to gathered donors and friends. “Friends, family, friends that we made through this adventure. Thank you, really from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

“This is our forever home,” Maj. Burkett said as he held back tears. “There’s a master bathroom that is completely accessible.”

The home is equipped with adaptive showers so that he can bathe himself and self-lowering shelves in the kitchen that allow him to cook for his family.

“The idea of getting up and moving around freely without thinking about logistics. Should I use a chair? Should I use crutches? All that’s gone,” Burkett said.

This foundation was started by Gary Sinise, who is best known for his role as Lieutenant Dan in the 1994 classic Forrest Gump. His foundation aims to build 10 to 12 homes per year for severely injured veterans and first responders, and they handed over the keys to their 50th smart home earlier this month.

We’re so glad to see that this military hero has been given the smart home that he deserves!

Watch Burkett being given his smart home in the video below, and SHARE this story so your friends and family can see this as well!