ELBERTA — Home should be a sanctuary. A place to retreat from the stress of the day. It shouldn't be a place that causes stress or injury.

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Johnny Morris II sustained severe injuries to both of his legs, including the amputation of his left foot, after he stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2011. After rehabilitation at Walter Reed Medical Center, he returned to North Carolina, but once he was medically retired, he returned to his home state of Alabama.

The home Morris shares with his wife, Natalie, and two children, Gage and Gabby, is a 1950s-era home in Mobile. The doorways, hallways and kitchen are narrow, and the shower is small. After a long day of wearing his prosthetic, Morris wants nothing more than to come home, kick off his shoe and leg, get into his wheelchair and relax. In his current home, he can't.

"Our shower is about the size of this podium, and he has fallen in it several times," Natalie said. "He lands right on his stump because he goes to put his leg that is missing down out of instinct. It is awful when it happens because he is off his prosthetic for days. He can't use his wheelchair, so he is stuck on the couch."

On Saturday, April 1, the Elberta community rolled out the red carpet to welcome the Morris family. Construction will soon begin on their new 2,800-square-foot home on 3 acres. The build and kick-off event are thanks to the national nonprofit Homes For Our Troops.

The Morris family could pick anywhere in the United States for their new home, and they chose Elberta. Both Morris and his wife grew up in the area and graduated from Robertsdale High School.

"It is amazing. We love the community. We love Elberta. The schools are great, and we have lots of friends here," Morris said. "It is home."

Natalie added, "The kids are excited they will be in school with some friends, so they are excited to get over here and have a good time."

Over the next six to eight months, J & S Construction will work to get the Morris' new home completed. Each HFOT home is equipped with over 40 special adaptations, like wide doorways and hallways, roll-in showers, roll-under sinks and countertops and pull-down shelving. The homes are also equipped with automatic door openers, a whole house generator and a Federal Emergency Management Agency- rated safe room.

"All of our homes have a FEMA-rated safe room for tornadoes and hurricanes," HFOT Director of Marketing Kathleen DeVito said. "That is also where the veterans charge their prosthetics. They must be charged, which a lot of people don't know. We keep it in the back master saferoom, so it is not visible to everyone."

While Natalie said she has enjoyed the process of picking out the home's finishes, she is most looking forward to what it will do for their family.

"I am always worried about leaving him," she said. "The stress this house will alleviate is unbelievable. I really can't thank Homes For Our Troops enough."

The Morris family will move into their mortgage-free home this fall.

For more information on Homes For Our Troops and to find out how you can get involved, visit www.hfotusa.org.