Country legendGeorge Strait handed a Purple Heart recipient — a severely wounded military veteran — with a key to a brand-new home at his recent concert in Pittsburgh.
On Saturday, May 31, Strait, 73, paused his Pittsburgh tour stop to honor the sergeant through the Military Warriors Support Foundation, during which the “Carrying Your Love With Me” singer presented the veteran with the oversized key to his new house — while repeatedly encouraging the audience to cheer for him, pointing to the sergeant for all the credit as the audience cheered for Strait himself.
The incredibly generous giveaway was announced onstage not by Strait — who sat, and later stood, next to the wounded vet — but by a member of the Military Warriors Foundation.
“I wanna tell you a story about this American hero and what he did for our freedom,” the man — who was unnamed in the fan-footage video — announced at the show. “I want you to meet this incredible American Purple Heart recipient: Sgt. Derek Austin [who] was deployed in Afghanistan was injured severely through shrapnel wounds when his convoy was attacked. Being wounded so severely because of that, he also suffered severely from TBI [traumatic brain injury] and PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder].”
He continued: “Well, we’re going to say ‘thank you’ in a very, very, very special way,” before announcing the big news: “We’re going to give this hero a beautiful house!” he exclaimed, as the audience erupted into applause and cheers.
It was after that revelation that Strait shook Austin’s hand and presented him with the symbolic key to his new home.
This is not the first time the country icon has awarded military vets for their service; he has frequently worked with the Military Warriors Support Foundation and has made headlines over the years every time he helps gift a house to a military veteran.