A Successful Double Home Ceremony in Lake Panasoffkee May 27, 2025
From Battlefield to Home Front: Lake Panasoffkee Welcomes Two Veteran Families with Mortgage-Free Homes
Building Homes for Heroes presented keys to US Navy Seaman Anton Baldwin and Army Sergeant Patrick Santos during special joint ceremony on May 14th
Building Homes for Heroes presented the keys to two mortgage-free homes to US Navy Seaman Anton Baldwin and Army Sergeant Patrick Santos during a special joint home dedication ceremony in Lake Panasoffkee, Florida on May 14, 2025. The event celebrated both heroes and their families as they begin a new chapter of their lives.
US Navy Seaman Anton Baldwin served over four years before his honorable discharge in 2016. During his service, Baldwin suffered hearing loss due to continuous exposure to firearms, and he also battles PTSD, which has impacted his post-military life. In 2020, Baldwin and his family faced severe economic hardships during the pandemic, including job loss and periods of homelessness. Despite these setbacks, Baldwin remains committed to providing a better future for his wife Catherine and their two sons. For his service, Seaman Baldwin received the Navy "E" Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Army Sergeant Patrick Santos served seven years before his honorable discharge in 2023. As a paralegal specialist with the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, Santos was tasked with processing traumatic testimony and gathering evidence from disturbing incidents. The emotional toll of this work resulted in PTSD, depression, hearing loss, insomnia, and night terrors that continue to affect his daily life. His resilience through these struggles has been a testament to his character as he focuses on creating a stable environment for his wife Jakalah and their three children. For his service, Sergeant Santos was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (2 Award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal W/ M Device.
The home dedication ceremony welcomed both families into their Lake Panasoffkee community, honoring their service and sacrifice to our Nation.
