Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
City of Mabank Administrator Bryant Morris (from left), Kelly Blaylock, Retired Navy SEAL Kerry Jackson, Johnny Walker, Baidaa Walker, Retired Navy SEAL Mark Gartrell, Senior Project Manager Ronnie Lyles and Mayor Randy Teague break ground on the new home hosted by Operation Finally Home March 14.

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Johnny and Baidaa Walker are the newest recipients of a mortgage free home. Operation Finally Home, City of Mabank and many contractors, donors and volunteers are making this dream come true.

MABANK–In January, The Monitor reported that: Operation Finally Home, the City of Mabank and Rule 46 LLC held a town hall meeting Jan. 18 at city hall to announce the building of a custom home for a deserving military hero and his family. Senior Project Manager of Operation Finally Home Ronnie Lyles explained the process and opportunities that Operation Finally Home offers.
 Operation Finally Home will be working with community leaders, local building suppliers and many local business donors to provide the mortgage-free home. 
The dream became a reality March 14 when Operation Finally Home, The City of Mabank and multiple contractors surprised Alahmady aka “Johnny Walker” and his wife Baidaa as the next recipients of a new home. 
Mayor Randy Teague began the ceremony with, “124 years ago when this town was founded, it was done so through the generosity and vision of a couple of men who were just trying to get a railroad to come through their ranch. That is how the city came into existence. And today through the providence of God that railroad reached halfway around the globe to Iraq to bring our newest resident’s home. So, Johnny… Baidaa, welcome to Mabank.” 
After a prayer led by Teague, the pledge of allegiance and The National Anthem, City Administrator Bryant Morris made comments. Morris listed all those that are going to donate materials and time to the project. Morris said, “I have worked all over Kaufman County, as a deputy sheriff, there is not a community like the city of Mabank. Anybody that lives here is blessed. There is no other community in this county that is like the city of Mabank. And I am proud to live here and call it my home. Thank you to everybody who showed up.” 
 Lyles spoke about how Kelly Blaylock and Morris approached the organization and were eager to begin the project. “On behalf of Operation Finally Home, thank you to the city of Mabank for all you have done and all you will be doing, for getting this started, for doing it right.”  Lyles continued with, “Operation Finally Home does not build the house, we partner with the builder. The builder has to reach his hand across the aisle and say, please help us to honor someone who has worn the uniform. It literally takes a village to do this and the village of Mabank has stepped up.” Lyles introduced Johnny saying, “We are here today for a special man, U.S. Military Interpreter Johnny Walker. Johnny was born in Iraq, he worked with the United States Naval Special Warfare Command for over six years. He served as a linguist, cultural advisor, and team member. He has had many injuries due to IED explosions and mortar attacks.”  Walker is able to work and is bringing his family with him. He asked to go to Texas because this is where most of his Navy SEAL friends are living. Lyles called Walker a “true hero,” then introduced Walker to the podium.
Walker spoke of his love for America and his devotion to his Navy SEAL brothers. In his native dialect Walker stated, “You can never take Texas from my heart. Because we had a mission every night and we did not know if we would be killed, we did not have a dream. What we did have was a meal plan. Make it to breakfast, then breakfast to lunch and lunch to dinner and focus on the job and not think about anything else because any detail that we miss is life lost. We faced bad guys. I raise my American flag everywhere.” Johnny spoke of raising his granddaughter to love and respect the United States because in his words, “this is our country.” He spoke of Kerry Jackson and Mark Gartrell, two of his Navy Seal Brothers. Johnny said,” because of people like them we can have the American dream.”
Gartrell said, “You can see why we love Johnny so much. Everything he did for us overseas, his personality and how appreciative he is of everything. There is no one more deserving of this than Johnny and I thank all of you very much.” Jackson also stated, “I see this as a true testament to the sovereign country of Texas. I was not born here. I did not have that blessing but I sure as heck will die here. Thank you for what you have done for this man.” 
Walker introduced his wife Baidaa as the real hero. Walker said, “Me, Kerry, Mark we are just doing our job but our wives were behind us taking all the heat in silence, raising our kids.” 
“Thank you for all you have done for us, there are no words that can express what I am feeling right now. I am blessed, first to be an American citizen and second to be honored to be a part of Mabank. Thank you so much,” Baidaa said.
Walker ended his speech with, “God Bless America, no matter what she will take care of us.”
Teague, Morris, Walker, Baidaa, Lyles and Blaylock were the first to break ground on the new home. The hope is that the home will be ready to move into in June, however this does depend on the weather.
Once the roof is up and before the sheetrock is installed, notes of love are written on the wood studs, from contractors, volunteers and city officials. The words of love are words of blessings and encouragement.