Tunnel to Towers Foundation Delivers Mortgage-Free Smart Home to Army Veteran

Army Staff Sergeant Terry Knight honored for his service with a mortgage-free smart home

COUPEVILLE, WA [January 12, 2025] – The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is proud to announce it has provided Army Staff Sergeant Terry Knight and his family with a new mortgage-free, smart home in Coupeville, Washington, providing comfort, safety, and long-term security. 

“It’s incredibly hard to put into words how thankful and grateful we are. It still feels surreal,” said SSGT Knight. “Having a mortgage-free smart home means we no longer have to worry about losing our home, no matter what the future holds.”

SSGT Knight grew up in Oak Harbor, Washington, in a military family. His father served in the U.S. Navy at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. SSGT Knight began his own service in the Navy Reserve before transitioning to active duty in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer. After briefly leaving the military, he re-enlisted following the attacks of September 11, 2001.

He went on to serve as a combat medic with multiple units, including deployments to Korea and Iraq with the 848th Forward Surgical Team. His final assignment was with the 91st Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where he trained service members in life-saving medical skills prior to their deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

In July 2014, SSGT Knight medically retired from the U.S. Army after being diagnosed with service-connected ALS.

“Staff Sergeant Terry Knight’s life is a testament to the power of positivity and resilience in the face of adversity,” said Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. “We are honored to provide him and his family with a home that offers comfort, safety, and independence, and to thank him for his many years of selfless service to our nation.”

Through the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Smart Home Program, the Foundation purchased and fully renovated the Knight family’s home, delivering it mortgage-free. The Smart Home Program builds and adapts homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, allowing them to live more independently while honoring their service and sacrifice.

Renovations to the Knight home include:

• ADA-accessible flooring and bathrooms
• A redesigned, accessible kitchen
• Ramps and safety railings
• A whole-house generator
• A Hoyer track lift system
• Smart home technology enabling remote control of lighting, climate, audio, and security

“Tunnel to Towers has made tasks that were nearly impossible, like cooking, opening doors, turning lights on and off so much easier for me,” SSGT Knight said. “Regaining that independence has also made a huge difference in my mental well-being.”

On September 11, 2001, FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller laid down his life to save others when America was attacked. For 25 years, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has honored Stephen’s legacy by supporting the heroes who continue to risk life and limb in the line of duty. 

To date, Tunnel to Towers has delivered over 1,700 mortgage-free homes to our nation’s heroes and committed over $1 billion across all of our programs.

SSGT Knight expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Tunnel to Towers supporters nationwide. “I am deeply honored that you would share your resources with a complete stranger to make my life and my family’s life so much easier. We are incredibly grateful and will never forget what you have done for us.”

This year, the Foundation is delivering 343 mortgage-free homes to catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, as well as Gold Star families and families of fallen first responders who leave behind young children. We are also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America to Never Forget September 11, 2001.

To join us on our mission to deliver mortgage-free homes to our nation’s heroes by going to T2T.org and donating $11 per month.