Gene and Kathi Sandburg, parents of fallen Petty Officer Brendon Sandburg, will be the second local family to receive a payment-free, forgivable-mortgage home as part of the PSL Gold Star Family Home Giveaway.
About the Home
Coordinated by the Neighborhood Services Department, GL HOMES will build a payment-free, forgivable-mortgage, 2,435-square-foot home. The City donated the lot to the selected family which was vetted through St. Lucie County's Veterans Service Division. GL HOMES is constructing a two-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-car garage home, which also includes a den, which will be completed in July 2022 and then donated to the Sandburg family.
The home will be in the Woodland Trails neighborhood at 4602 SW Inagua St. in Port St. Lucie, Florida 34953. They'll live just two houses away from the Heintz family, Lisa, and her two sons, Dierk and Dominik, the recipients of the inaugural PSL's Gold Star Family Home Giveaway.
Petty Officer Sandburg, a Naval Hospital Corpsman, was assigned to Branch Medical Clinic, Yuma, Ariz., when he perished in a Search and Rescue helicopter training exercise Aug. 16, 2007.
In recognition of his numerous military achievements, Petty Officer Sandburg was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; the Navy Expeditionary Medal; the Combat Action Ribbon; the Army Achievement Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Two Navy Good Conduct Medals; the National Defense Service Medal; three Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbons; and the Navy Expert Pistol and Expert Rifleman Medals.
Monday, November 8, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
Council approves partnership with GL Homes to construct Sandburg's new home.
Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 10 a.m.
In time for Veterans Day, on Nov. 10, the City of Port St. Lucie hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the surviving family of Brendon Sandburg, Petty Officer, a Naval Hospital Corpsman. Thus, making the dream home ownership became a reality for Kathi and Gene Sandburg, who lost their son in a Search and Rescue helicopter training exercise on Aug. 16, 2007.
City officials and staff with GL Homes took shovels and broke ground in a traditional ceremony. Councilman Pickett spoke about the sacrifice made by Petty Officer Brendon Sandburg to save others. Carmen Capezzuto, City of Port St Lucie Director of Neighborhood Services and Ryan Courson, Division President, GL Homes shared their dedication to constructing a home for a deserving family. Jose Capellan, St. Lucie County Veterans Affairs representative, emphasized the importance of providing quality support and resources for veterans.
Kathi Sandburg, mother of Petty Officer Sandburg, spoke of her son's joy in flying and helping his fellow officers. She eloquently closed the ceremony with Brendon's quote to live by, "So others may live."
Monday, November 29 (the Monday after Thanksgiving) at 11 a.m.
The GL Homes design team presented the floorplan and features of this beautiful new home to Kathi and Gene Sandburg. The location is the Valencia Grove at Riverland sales office 10735 SW Matisse Lane, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987.
Photo credit: Tracey Benson Photography.
March 2022
During the first week of March 2022, GL Homes backfilled and prepped the slab, which passed inspection on 3/3/22 and was poured 3/4/2022.
GL Homes also completed the following activities during the week of March 7, 2022: stucco grade lot, load and install block, truss delivery, beam inspection and pour.
June 2022
Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 4 p.m.
The Sandburgs at the closing of their new home.
Neighborhood Services Department
"Partnerships like this are rare, and the City is incredibly fortunate to be in the position to offer a second home to another local Gold Star Family who made the ultimate sacrifice," said Carmen Capezzuto, Port St. Lucie's Neighborhood Services Director. "Thanks to GL Homes, the City Council and team can extend the American dream of homeownership to the Sandburg family, an amazing couple, who have been so humble and gracious throughout this lengthy process."
GL Homes
"Kathi and Gene Sandburg's son, Brendon, made the ultimate sacrifice for our country," said GL Homes Division President of St. Lucie County Ryan Courson. "GL Homes hopes the house we build for this Gold Star Family provides comfort, security and healing."
For more than 40 years, GL HOMES has specialized in building new luxury homes, 55-plus communities and family-oriented communities in the most sought-after locations on Florida's east and west coasts. You can depend on amazing quality and amenities in your GL HOMES community. Our homes are located near top-rated schools, endless entertainment, beautiful beaches, shopping, dining and the best of what Florida has to offer. As you walk through our incredibly decorated model homes, you can see the difference in quality and excellence.
Believe with Me Foundation
Believe with Me Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to Bringing Hope and Help to America's Gold Star Families. A Gold Star Family has lost a loved one in the service of our nation's military. Believe with Me serves all manner of military death killed In action, killed In training, PTSD suicide and cancer-related deaths to exposures during military service.
St. Lucie County Veterans Services Division
St. Lucie County's Veterans Service's mission is to serve America's veterans and their families with dignity and compassion and to be their principal advocate in ensuring that they receive the care, support and recognition earned in service to this nation.
Letter from State Representative Dana Trabulsy
"I recently saw an article in TCPalm regarding your Gold Star Family Home Giveaway Program and I wanted to take a moment to thank you for all that you are doing for our Military families. You truly are angels sent from Heaven, caring for these families when they need it the most. Your dedication, hard work and compassion is appreciated more than you will ever know. We are very lucky to have you supporting our community. You make St. Lucie County a great place to live! Thank you again for all that you do and best wishes for continued success!
Kindest Regards,
Dana Trabulsy
State Representative, District 84"
City of Port St. Lucie Press Releases
- 7/14/22: Gold Star family receives keys to new, payment-free, forgivable mortgage home in Port St. Lucie
- 11/9/21: A dream comes true for a one Gold Star family - Follow the journey of PSL's newest Gold Star Family Home Giveaway
- 1/21/21: City and Synergy Homes Announce the Winner of the Gold Star/Veterans Home Giveaway
- 1/20/21: City to reveal the winner of the Gold Star/Veterans Home Giveaway
- 12/1/20: Accepting Applications for Port St. Lucie's Homes for Heroes Program
- 11/20/20: Homes for Heroes Construction Kickoff Event; Join the City of Port St. Lucie on Dec. 1, 2020
External News
Applicants were considered case-by-case and those considered to receive a home meet the following criteria:
- Gold Star Families and Veterans must reside within the Treasure Coast (St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee)
- Veterans may not be active duty members of the military
- Must have a DD214 with Honorable Discharge or General (under honorable discharge)
- Applicants must not currently own a home
- Must have a 620-credit score
- Must have sufficient employment/income verification documentation.
- Primary & owner-occupied, deed restriction with a forgiveness rate (TBD)
- Veterans will only be eligible if there are no eligible Gold Star Families
- City to invite finalists to a lottery drawing held at the home post construction.
- Demonstrated ability to accept responsibilities of home ownership; suitability determined through application process.
- Demonstrated ability to take on financial responsibilities of home ownership which include, but are not limited to, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, utility bills, maintenance, homeowner's association dues where applicable and moving expenses.
Keys to the Home Ceremony
The City of Port St. Lucie and Synergy Homes, in collaboration with St. Lucie County Veteran Services Division, presented Gold Star/Veterans Family Lisa Heintz and her two sons, Dierk and Dominik, the keys to their new home, along with a payment-free, 25-year forgivable mortgage March 10, 2021.
The key ceremony began with Port St. Lucie Police Department's traffic unit conducting a Dignified Transfer of Remains for Air Force Senior Airman Joshua Allen Reinwasser and his surviving family from their old home to the new one.
Answering the call to duty, Joshua proudly served his country and was deployed to Guam and Qatar. There he served as a loader maintainer on the B-1 bomber when he was exposed to chemicals that caused lesions in his lungs and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
A flagpole with two flags waving, an Air Force flag and the American flag, was a welcome home gift donated by Councilman David Pickett. This process has been a personal tribute to all the City Council members since they approved the Gold Star/Veterans Home Giveaway, in collaboration with Synergy Homes, on Sept. 28, 2020.
The City was honored to donate a lot in the Woodland Trails Neighborhood, 4626 SW Inagua St., and is proud to partner with Synergy Homes as it volunteered to build the 1,800-square-foot home. In December, 13 applications for the home were accepted and vetted by St. Lucie County's Veteran Services Division, in partnership with the City. The selection was narrowed down to two Gold Star families.
In a heartwarming event held Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, the City hosted a random drawing to pick one family to receive the home. Lisa Heintz, the mother of fallen Air Force Senior Airman Joshua Allen Reinwasser, won the inaugural Gold Star family of PSL's Gold Star/Veterans Home Giveaway.
Updated on 07/07/2022 2:35 PM
For more information
Contact the Neighborhood Services Department's Community Programs Division at 772-344-4084 or email nsd@cityofpsl.com.