For Army veteran Aaron Cornelius, everything changed after the blast. Suddenly, the world went dark.
In April 2008, serving his third tour of duty in Iraq, Cornelius lost his ability to see when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated, damaging his face, eyes and head, rendering him blind. It was a few moments that had a profound, lasting impact. The Army veteran had to learn how to navigate life as a person with a disability.
In 2009, his wife died after an illness. Cornelius was left to raise his five daughters. The road hasn’t always been smooth, but recently, Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit organization, gifted Cornelius with a home customized for disabled veterans.
Through the years, Cornelius, who served as a sergeant first class, learned to adapt to his blindness. However, his current home in Bradenton, Florida wasn’t equipped to handle his disability. Simple everyday tasks most of the population take for granted, like adjusting the thermostat, operating his stove and programming a home security system became daunting.
“They are a family you know,” Cornelius said. “They’re not just going to help you out... and send you on your way; they’re with you for life.”
Receiving His ‘American Dream’
Realizing he needed help, Cornelius reached out to Homes for Our Troops about two years ago and the nonprofit set him up with the ideal model for his needs, the “American Dream.”
“They are a family you know,” Cornelius said. “They’re not just going to help you out... and send you on your way; they’re with you for life.”
Homes for Our Troops, based out of Taunton, Massachusetts, thrives through charitable donations. Founded in 2004, the organization has provided homes for post-911 veterans ever since. In more than two decades, Homes for Our Troops has built 429 homes for severely disabled veterans. According to its website, the organization has 63 houses currently in the building phase throughout 46 states, and 90 cents of every dollar the nonprofit spends goes to veteran services.
However, the need to help post-911 veterans continue to grow. A blog post published on its website near the end of 2025 stated that almost 1,800 veterans are on the wait list to receive adapted custom-build houses. For 2026 and beyond, the organization plans to focus on expanding its outreach to help more veterans.
“With your continued support, we’re ready to enter the new year committed to advancing our mission of building homes and rebuilding lives for the veterans who served and sacrificed for our nation,” the post stated.
New Home Means Independence
Tom Landwermeyer, a retired brigadier general, serves as the organization’s president and CEO. He said Cornelius’s new home features items specifically for a person with blindness, highlighted by a home automation package.
“He’ll be able to basically talk to the home and make sure his windows are closed and locked – make sure his doors are locked and for a blind-visually impaired individual, that is an important part of security, especially at night,” Landwermeyer said.
Along with a voice-activated security system, all houses through Homes for Our Troops are one-story structures with no raised stoops in the doorways that could be dangerous for trips or falls.
Landwermeyer credits Cornelius and other visually impaired people living independently and not letting disabilities stop them from enjoying life.
“He’ll be able to basically talk to the home and make sure his windows are closed and locked – make sure his doors are locked and for a blind-visually impaired individual, that is an important part of security, especially at night,” Landwermeyer said.
“To have full sight for your entire life and then in an instance the lights go out— I see visually impaired people out there all the time— and I’m just absolutely amazed and he is just the same,” Landwermeyer said.
Construction for the veteran’s home, in Lithia, Florida, should be completed by May. Cornelius is excited for the future. His new house will finally have the adaptations he needs to feel safe and secure.
In some regards, losing his sight in Iraq became a blessing for the former soldier. It opened avenues he never dreamed of exploring and gave him newfound confidence.
“You know you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it – you can find a way,” Cornelius said. “That’s what led me to doing things I probably never did before even when I could see.”
