"My husband was the best husband in the world, of course. But also a great father. A good soldier," said Jessica Hess, Gold Star wife.
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In 2019, Jessica Hess' world came crashing down.
"It was two days before he was killed and he said, 'I'm going out on a long mission. I won't be able to talk to you for a while. I love you more than anything in this world.' I had no idea that was going to be the last thing he ever said to me," said Hess.
Her husband, Army Staff Sergeant Jacob Hess, was killed during a training exercise in Fort Polk, Louisiana. And for almost two years, she's struggled raising her three daughters and two step daughters.
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"Where he was was home to me. So without him, the house just really felt like a house, like an empty shelf," said Hess.
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But on Tuesday came a huge relief and a chance to make their house a home. It was a gift from the Tunnel to Tower Foundation - paying off her mortgage, along with four other Gold Star families.
"It is because of Tunnel to Towers and everyone that has garnered support for this foundation that I can happily say that the stress of providing a safe place to put my children to sleep each night has completely vanished," said Hess.
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If you would like to support the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, there will be a run in Wake Forest in October.