A New Mexico Marine veteran and his family have a new home for the holidays

Johnson Nez blew a whistle to draw the attention of the Almighty and blessed a northwest Albuquerque home with corn pollen and prayers Wednesday morning in preparation for a Marine veteran and his family to move in.

Purple Heart recipient and retired Marine Sgt. Dustin Francisco and his wife, Kimberlyn, were selected for the Building Homes for Heroes program, a nonprofit that has worked to provide 356 U.S. veterans and first responders homes since 2006. Chase Bank gifted the mortgage-free home. Lowe's and Advanced Auto Parts also provided financial support.

“I still can’t believe it’s real,” Dustin Francisco said.

Francisco, 39, has five children, ages 19, 16, 10, 2 and 4 months. He left for boot camp Dec. 6, 2004, when his oldest daughter was only 6 months old.

The house is a blessing for the blended family, Kimberlyn Francisco said.

“We just know we’ll grow from here in this house,” she said.

Dustin Francisco comes from a legacy of military service. His paternal grandfather, Woody Francisco, received a Purple Heart for his service in the 6th Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan, in World War II. Woody Francisco's first cousin, Joe Vandever Sr., was one of the Navajo code talkers, a group that helped shift the tide of WWII.

“After knowing the history of the Marine Corps, I really wanted to be part of something that is bigger than myself,” Dustin Francisco said.

Francisco did five tours during his eight years in the Marines, said his mother, June Chavez. He wanted to re-enlist, but PTSD prevented that, she said.

In 2011, Francisco's unit operated in southern Helmand Province, Afghanistan, establishing a combat outpost. While on a mission, the unit was ambushed and he was struck by a grenade blast, causing a traumatic brain injury and shrapnel wounds, according to a news release from Building Homes for Heroes.

“Just one day, I thought everything was OK, and grenades started coming into my compound and a few other people were evacuated, and I was happy enough to where, my wounds weren’t as serious ... to where I wanted to get back to my guys,” he said.

Francisco and his family have been living in Mariano Lake, and the closest Veteran’s Affairs hospital is in Gallup — 45 minutes away. Access to mental health treatment there is limited, he said. Often, he would be sent to the Albuquerque VA hospital to receive medical services, Kimberlyn Francisco said. Living in Albuquerque should make it easier for him to access health care.

Dustin Francisco said the move also will give his children more opportunities to participate in sports that he enjoyed growing up.

“There's a lot more opportunities here like basketball, volleyball, better schools,” he said.

Chavez was on hand to watch her son receive the keys to his new house and said she is proud of her son and his service.

“I don’t have the words for it. It’s amazing,” said Chavez.