George Strait Saturday Surprise Continues a Powerful Tradition

George Strait returned to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Saturday to wow crowds with his singing, something he has been doing for decades. However, he also carried out another time-honored tradition that day: presenting a veteran with a place to call home. As Country Wire shared, the country music legend presented Sergeant Derek Austin, a Purple Heart recipient, with a new home while on stage.

As the post details, Sgt. Austin’s new home is mortgage-free, thanks to the Military Warriors Support Foundation. However, this isn’t Strait’s first time presenting a veteran with such a life-changing gift; the singer has been doing so for over a decade.

Strait Has Made 124 Home Presentations to Date

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Sgt. Austin is just one of many veterans that has received a new home in this manner. In fact, he is number 124. As the Military Warriors Support Foundation’s official website describes, Strait has facilitated these presentations during his concerts for 14 years. Each presentation begins as an on-stage meet & greet with the country singer before the emotional key hand-off.

A video from the concert shows Sgt. Austin receiving a symbolic key to his new home in front of the cheering Pittsburgh crowd. In a statement posted on the foundation’s website, Strait describes the impact these free homes have on veterans’ lives: “The moment a wounded hero receives a key to their new home, generations are changed forever.” Veterans in 32 different states have received a new home through an on-stage presentation from Strait.

The Singer Served in The Military Before Becoming a Country Star

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This cause is especially close to Strait’s heart because of personal experience. The singer is a veteran himself, having served from 1971-1975. As Military Warriors Support Foundation notes on its website, the singer achieved the rank of Corporal during his service and was stationed in Hawaii.

As Strait shared with Backstage Country, being in the Army was actually one of the early phases of his country music journey. “The last year I was in the Army is when I started singing country music, and the general, the post command in general, started bands out of military personnel, and I got the job as the singer in the country band,” he explained. “And so that’s what I did. I sang country music for the Army.”