Honoring America’s Warriors’ Honor Guard to conduct his memorial at Legacy Estates addition
OKLAHOMA CITY (June 29, 2017) – Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity (COHFH) will honor and memorialize deceased U.S. Army retiree Sergeant 1st Class E7, Stephen Florentz in a special ceremony at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 29, at the Legacy Estates addition in Oklahoma City. Florentz made the single largest donation in COHFH’s history. Through a trust, Florentz left the non-profit his home and $2.25 million dollars.
“Stephen Florentz’s gift will not only build 25 homes at Legacy Estates, it will forever change the lives of 25 hardworking families,” said Ann Felton Gilliland, CEO & Chairman of Central Oklahoma Habitat. “Words cannot express how grateful we are for this tremendous gift.”
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Oklahoma News9 Oklahoma KFOR Oklahoma FOX The OklahomanFlorentz, originally from Brooklyn, New York, joined the U.S. army at the height of the Vietnam War where he served two years as a helicopter medic. During his service, he received a Purple Heart, an Air Medal (FOURTH OAK LEAF CLUSTER) with “V” device for Valor Under Fire and a SE Asia Medal. Upon his return, Florentz went back to school to become a surgical technician with the Veterans Administration. He worked for VA hospitals in New England, Tennessee, and Arkansas before landing a job in Oklahoma City in 1987. The following year, he purchased his first home.
Stephen Florentz Trust Trustee, Mike Bourland, who was Florentz’s friend and insurance agent, says Stephen grew up living in a tenement area of Brooklyn, and that was one of the reasons he cherished homeownership.
“Steve told me what he was doing with Habitat several years ago. He valued homeownership so highly,” said Bourland.
Florentz reentered the Army Reserve in Oklahoma City, and when the U.S. entered the war in Iraq in 1991, Florentz’s unit was activated overseas. Florentz served nearly a year in Operation Desert Storm, taking care of injured American soldiers at the army hospital in Saudi Arabia. Florentz retired from the VA in 2006, and spent the next decade being active – running, bicycling and volunteering his time for various churches around Oklahoma City.
“What’s funny is Steve never actually volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. He was not much of a contractor,” said Bourland. “He grew up in the Jewish faith but he did not actively practice – he would go to any church in Oklahoma City to volunteer his help.”
Florentz passed away from heart disease in December 2016.
“Since Stephen’s passing, beyond his donation, we learned he never received his military honors, so we want to see that he is properly honored for his service to our country,” said Felton Gilliland.
During the COHFH ceremony, Honoring America’s Warriors Honor Guard will render military honors and present the American flag to Mr. Bourland.
“Stephen has no close family so this acknowledgement is especially important to the Honor Guard. In many ways, it means the most to them when there is nobody present to recognize a person’s contributions to their country,” said Scotty “Dee” Deatherage, Exec. Dir. of Honoring America’s Warriors.
“His military career spoke volumes about his character, his service to his nation, and other veterans who are left behind,” said retired USAF Major General Rita Aragon. “His service continues even past his life, he continues to serve others with his gifts.”
The COHFH ceremony will conclude with the unveiling of a new Legacy Estates sign honoring Florentz. His ashes will be interred that afternoon at Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin at 2 p.m.
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About Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity
Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry
that provides affordable housing for hardworking, limited income families. The organization has built nearly 900 new homes in central Oklahoma since 1990; all sold at cost and with zero interest mortgages. For more information, visit cohfh.org or call 405-232-4828.
About Honoring America’s Warriors
Honoring Americas Warriors is a 501(c) (3) non-profit tax-exempt organization dedicated to supporting the physical, mental, and spiritual wellness services to our nation’s veterans. Honoring Americas Warriors provides teams of disabled/retired veterans a new mission to be back in-service dress uniform to provide/augment military funeral honors only, for honorably discharged veterans that have served this country. Honoring Americas Warriors also provides direct support to our nation’s heroes in the areas of outdoor sporting activities, adaptive sports, mental health & spiritual wellness, family & couples gatherings, service/companion dog placement, employment as well as prevention of veteran suicide, and “Homes for Warriors”, a partnership with Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity. Honoring Americas Warriors works with community leaders, elected officials and legislators, and other non-profit organizations to enhance veteran’s awareness and promote veteran’s initiatives. For more information, visit www.honoringamericaswarriors.org or call 405-948-4376.