Gary Sinise Foundation Archives

LINTHICUM, MD, September 1, 2020— NFM Lending is pleased to honor retired Navy SEAL, Ray “Cash” Care, as the NFM Salute for September 2020.

Care is no stranger to adversity; it is a force that has shaped him his entire life. When Care was just eleven years old, his father was murdered. As a teenager, Care struggled with substance abuse, anger, and emotional pain. “I did a self-reflection drill at 19 and realized I was turning into the man that was murdered… Right then and there [was] one of the first of what I call ‘gut checks’ in my life. Those pinnacle moments where I said now is the time to change me. And that’s what I did.” His life changed forever when he joined the Navy in 1992 and learned about Navy SEALs. Looking for a challenge, Care became determined to become one.

Care achieved his goal of becoming a SEAL in 1995. Out of the 138 people in his class, only 16 completed the training. Care recalls the hardest moment of BUD training being the 50-meter breath hold. “I can’t lie. I was scared. I was watching people pass out, black out. My turn to go, I went, I failed the first time. They get you out of the water and they literally let you just go do it again…Sometimes you have to step up or step off. [It] was one of those gut checks. And here I am, obviously you know the result. Once you accomplish something like that in your life, the mindset that you have is ‘I can do anything’. That was one of the pinnacle moments in my life when I said, ‘Nothing can stop me.’”

From there, his military career took him on multiple tours of duty and overseas missions as a member of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two (SDV-2). He survived a mortar attack during one mission in Iraq, which he describes as being “one of the most traumatic/inspirational” days of his life. The SEALs gave Care an unbreakable community and emboldened him to fight through fear and pain. After 12 years of serving in the Navy, Care left the SEALs in 2004 to work on assignment for the CIA, which he did for 14 years.

Care has not slowed down since re-entering civilian life. He founded CONQUER, a leadership and team-building training program. Using the skills and techniques he learned in the military, Care helps people improve their physical fitness and mental endurance. Other programs he is involved in include LTD Project, which gives businesses the tools to work more efficiently, and The Project, a 75-hour bootcamp intensive. He also cohosts a podcast called The Overcome and Conquer Show, where he interviews inspiring individuals who have overcome challenges in their lives. Care lives in Virginia Beach, VA with his wife Tricia and their daughter Nyla. Their son, Michael, is following his father’s military tradition and currently serves in the U.S. Air Force.

According to Care, being a SEAL is all about attitude, and believes anyone can harness that same mentality to improve their lives. “Family, fitness, finance and faith; my four F-bombs to success. I put family at the top and I put faith at the bottom. Faith is the foundation of everything. Faith is not religion. You wanna be successful, it starts with you. Believe in yourself. Get up every morning like you won the lottery and attack life,” says Care.

NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” will be featured on the website with a biography and information about his or her service, and NFM Lending will donate to a military or Veteran non-profit in the Salute’s name.

NFM Lending is proud to donate $2,500 to Gary Sinise Foundation on behalf of Care. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.

NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 41 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, and Freedmont Mortgage Group. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as “America’s Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender.™” For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.

LINTHICUM, MD, August 3, 2020— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Colonel Kevin Sellers, USAF, Retired, as the NFM Salute for August 2020.

COL Sellers served in the Air Force from 1995 to 2020. His distinguished military career began after he graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. The early years of his profession had him stationed at Elgin and Tinker Air Force Base, where he made lifelong connections with his fellow Airmen. He was stationed to Karshi-Khanabad Air Force Base in Uzbekistan in 2003 to assist with Operation ENDURING FREEDOM as an Executive Officer.

From 2011 to 2012, COL Sellers acted as DCMA-Iraq Deputy Group Commander and assisted with the peaceful transition of power to Iraqi locals. He played an integral role in safely withdrawing troops and contractors from Iraq during Operation NEW DAWN. He achieved the rank of Colonel in 2016.

His most recent position was Chief, C-5M Super Galaxy Division, Mobility and Training Aircraft Directorate, at Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Robins Air Force Base, GA. In this role, COL Sellers provided integrated logistical support for the 52 C-5M aircraft and oversaw 220 personnel. As the manager of the Division’s $3.1B annual budget, he helped formulate strategies for the modernization and modification of the C-5 aircraft.

Ever since he was at the Air Force Academy, COL Sellers sought to challenge himself. His professional achievements have shown he stayed true to his personal goal, and it also extended into the classroom. Even with a full-time career in the military, COL Sellers continued to advance his education and earned his MBA in 2000 and Juris Doctor in 2005 from Oklahoma City University.

COL Sellers retired from the Air Force in May 2020 after 25 years of service. As someone who has committed himself to the military, COL Sellers has advice for anyone interested in pursuing the same career.

“I would tell them to enjoy their service and continue to seek opportunities,” he says. “There are so many opportunities for personal and professional improvement. There are opportunities to do great in your career field, and then at certain points in your career, to branch out and do different things. So it’s important to really understand the mechanics of those opportunities and the processes for taking advantage of all that the military has to offer.”

During his career, COL Sellers has been awarded 10 awards and distinctions, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Iraq Campaign Medal with service star, and the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal.

COL Sellers resides in Grapevine, TX with his wife, Angela. He is the proud father of Tyler, Brookelyn, Kylee, and Adilyn, and grandfather of Lilith. Tyler is following in his father’s military footsteps by serving as an Army Staff Sergeant, currently on his second deployment. Now that he is retired, COL Sellers looks forward to reconnecting with friends and family and getting to enjoy “lake life”.

NFM Lending is proud to donate $2,500 to Gary Sinise Foundation on behalf of COL Sellers. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.

LINTHICUM, MD, April 1, 2020— NFM Lending is pleased to honor (Ret.) Major Jeremy Haynes as the NFM Salute for April 2020.

Haynes, a native of Albany, Georgia, vowed to serve his country after watching the horrific events of September 11^th, 2001 in his high school JROTC classroom. In 2004, he earned a scholarship to Georgia Military College and was later commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He deployed to Afghanistan, having to leave his then-pregnant wife, Chelsea, and their two children.

During a mission in Kabul on August 5^th, 2014, Haynes was shot four times by an Afghan Military Soldier. At the time, Haynes was serving as aide to Maj. Gen. Harold Greene, who did not survive the attack. Haynes was evacuated to Germany, then Walter Reed Military Medical Center, where he woke up to his wife beside him.

One of the shots was to his back, injuring his spine. He suffered a severed vena cava and 80% of the nerves to his lower extremities, leaving both of his legs paralyzed. Needing multiple surgeries, Haynes faced an excruciating and long recovery. At one point, he wrote, “I WILL WALK AGAIN” on a piece of paper and stared at it every day. After months of physical therapy and with Chelsea encouraging and inspiring him, he finally stood and took his first steps in November 2014. Now, Haynes can stand and walk for short periods of time with the help of adaptive equipment.

Discussing how he kept pushing himself and continues to do so every day, Haynes said:

“I tell myself, “Hey, you have to live on for [Col. Greene], you have to live on for those who can’t be here today, who wish they were. Those who died in a foreign land. They died serving a great country. They need to be honored, and me having pity parties or saying what I can’t do anymore, I told myself, “Jeremy, throw all that in the trash.” Those guys died so you could be here, living and having the freedoms we often take for granted. God has granted you an opportunity to walk on this earth again.”

During his extensive military career, Haynes has been honored with a multitude of awards, including: the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Freedom Campaign Medal, Combat Action Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Parachute Rigger Badge, German Jump Wings, and the Norwegian 30K Road Mark Badge.

Haynes was a recent recipient of a specially adapted smart home, courtesy of the R.I.S.E. program of the Gary Sinise Foundation. This home will allow Jeremy to live more independently and improve his quality of life.

“The one thing that stood out for me is those few inches in a door,” said Haynes. “For the average person it may mean little, but to me, having those few inches allows me the ability to navigate my wheelchair into my kids’ rooms; to be able to pray with them, kiss them goodnight, read them a bedtime story, and tuck them in. That itself, in my opinion, is the greatest feature of this home.”

NFM Lending is proud to donate $2,500 to The Gary Sinise Foundation on behalf of Haynes and his family. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.

NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 41 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, Bluprint Home Loans, and Freedmont Mortgage Group. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as “America’s Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender.™” For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.

LINTHICUM, MD, February 3, 2020— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Sergeant Eric Houck as the NFM Salute for February 2020.

Houck joined the U.S. Army in May of 2013. He was stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky until he was deployed to Peka Valley, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan as a forward observer in the 101st Airborne Division. On June 10, 2017, Houck and two other soldiers were attacked and killed by an Afghan soldier. Houck had just two months left before returning home. He was only 25 years old.

Houck graduated from Perry Hall High School where he met his wife, Samantha, when he was 15. They had two children: “EJ” and Violet.

Discussing why Eric chose to join the army, his father, Mike, stated, “He could probably have achieved anything he wanted to, but he felt this was his way to take care of his family.”

Houck posthumously earned the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge and Army Commendation Medal with a second oak leaf cluster for his end-of-tour awards.

Houck’s mother, Lisa, touched on the impact of losing her son and becoming a Gold Star parent.

“Sometimes I honestly still feel like we are alone, but when people like you and your organization decide to honor Eric, that makes me feel like we’re not alone. I don’t want to say that it’s upsetting, but people can just go through their normal day. It’s hard to go through our normal day because it’s a loss, it’s a heartache that will never heal. You try to find things that make you happy and it’s really hard to because you’re just missing such a love that was a part of you. It will never heal…but Eric’s alive in us, because we have him in our heart.”

NFM Lending is proud to donate $2,500 to The Gary Sinise Foundation on behalf of Eric and the Houck family. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.

NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 39 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as “America’s Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender.™” For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.

LINTHICUM, MD, December 1, 2019— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Specialist Jerry Williams as the NFM Salute for December 2019.

Jerry served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1969 in both Ft. Hood, Texas and Chu Lai, Vietnam. He was a member of H-Troop 17^th Cavalry as a gunner on an armored personnel carrier (APC).

Jerry’s son, Jeremy, who served in the Marine Corps Reserves, 1st Battalion, 24^th Marines, was initially nominated for the NFM Salute but instead chose to recognize his father. Jeremy describes him as an overall incredible man and loving father.

“He loved me and my sister unconditionally. I’ve never felt that kind of love from anybody. My dad was always there to help. I respect what he did. He went over there and served selflessly. He was a very good man; I wish I could be half the man that he was.”

NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” will be featured on the website with a biography and information about his or her service, and NFM Lending will make a $1,000 donation to a military or Veteran non-profit in the Salute’s name.

Selected NFM Salutes may choose from one of the following three non-profits: Platoon 22, Any Soldier, and the Gary Sinise Foundation. Jeremy chose the Gary Sinise Foundation to receive this month’s donation in his father’s honor. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.

About NFM Lending

LINTHICUM, MD, May 1, 2019— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Staff Sergeant Giovanni Pierorazio as the NFM Salute for May 2019.

SSG Pierorazio was born in a small mountain village in central Italy. He and his family emigrated to the U.S. when he was ten years old. He graduated high school in June of 1967. SSG Pierorazio immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army and began his military service the following September, with basic training in Fort Benning, GA. He spent November and December in Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) at Fort Gordon, GA. In early February of 1968, he was assigned as a replacement to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division.

“On the 24th of March, my Company was sent out on an air assault against elements of the North Vietnamese Army, which just been forced out of the city of Hue by US Marines. These forces were trying to escape, and our units were intent on stopping them. Within a few hours, we came under fire from NVA forces and an increasingly intense battle ensued. During that battle I was wounded when rifle fire struck me in the left forearm.”

As a result of his wound, SSG Pierorazio was evacuated back to the US. He convalesced at Walter Reed Military Hospital until October. At that time, he was assigned to the 197th Light Infantry Brigade garrisoned at Fort Benning. In May of 1969, SSG Pierorazio was ordered to the Republic of South Korea, where he stayed for the remainder of his Army tour of duty; serving in the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas. SSG Pierorazio returned to the US at the end of June of 1970 and was discharged from active duty in Fort Lewis, WA on July 2^nd, 1970, having attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, E-6.

SSG Pierorazio was the recipient of several service awards, including a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

“I, along with the rest of my family, would like to let Giovanni know how proud we are of him for the sacrifice he gave in serving his country.”

NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” will be featured on the website with a biography and information about his or her service, and NFM Lending will make a $1,000 donation to a military or Veteran non-profit in the Salute’s name.

Selected NFM Salutes may choose from one of the following three non-profits: Platoon 22, AnySoldier, and the Gary Sinise Foundation. SSG Pierorazio chose the Gary Sinise Foundation to receive this month’s donation. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.

NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 37 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as “America’s Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender.™” For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.

LINTHICUM, MD, April 1, 2019— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Chief Petty Officer Bernard Kwiatkowski as the NFM Salute for April 2019.

CPO Kwiatkowski served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. During his tours of duty, he was stationed in England, North Africa, and the South Pacific on the USS LST 21.

CPO Kwiatkowski’s service awards include: American Campaign Medal, Europe-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Stars, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Occupation of Japan, China Service Medal.

“My grandfather, we call him Pop, is a 97-year-old WWII vet who served in the Navy for 4 years. He has so many amazing/inspiring/interesting stories from his time in the service, but my favorite is how he met my Nanny while in England. They were married for 71 years before she sadly passed away 2 years ago. My Pop still tells all his stories and is proud to show off his medals and other memories he has from his time in the service – even at 97 he can still recall so many little details. He really is an incredible man and we are proud to call him our grandfather!”

NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” will be featured on the website with a biography and information about his or her service, and NFM Lending will make a $1,000 donation to a military or Veteran non-profit in the Salute’s name.

Selected NFM Salutes may choose from one of the following three non-profits: Platoon 22, AnySoldier, and the Gary Sinise Foundation. CPO Kwiatkowski chose the Gary Sinise Foundation to receive this month’s donation. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.

LINTHICUM, MD, March 8, 2019— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Sergeant Major Nancy Ainsworth, USMC, Ret. as the NFM Salute for March 2019.

SgtMaj Ainsworth served on active duty in the Marine Corps from Dec. 1981 through Aug. 2007. She attended boot camp in January and February 1982. She recalls, “Back then, women did not qualify with the service rifle! We also received classes on how to properly wear makeup. I believe after I left boot camp, I never wore makeup again!”

Her first duty station was on the island of Okinawa, Japan. She met her husband while in Okinawa and they were married the following year by the Justice of Peace in Jacksonville, NC, over 35 years ago. Together they were stationed on Camp Lejeune from 1983 to 1986. Both were meritoriously promoted to Sergeant on the same day. They received orders to Parris Island, SC to be drill instructors in 1986 and were both meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant while serving there. They transferred back to Camp Lejeune together in 1989 and had their first son, RJ, in 1990.

SgtMaj Ainsworth received orders back to Okinawa in 1991 when RJ was just nine months old. She took RJ with her and spent a year on Okinawa while her husband prepared to deploy with his unit. She returned to Camp Lejeune in 1992 and had her second son, Charlie, that year. She was promoted to Gunnery Sgt in 1993 and received orders to Headquarters Marine Corps in Arlington, VA in 1994 – the same year her husband was medically retired from the Marine Corps. SgtMaj Ainsworth served at Headquarters Marine Corps for two years until she was selected to go to college on the Staff NCO degree completion program. She attended Campbell University from 1996-1998, graduating with a BS degree in Psychology. While completing her degree, she was selected to the rank of First Sergeant. SgtMaj Ainsworth served at the Marine Corps’ School of Infantry, Marine Combat Training Battalion from 1999 to 2001. She was promoted to Sergeant Major in 2001. While a Sergeant Major, she deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and to Iraq in 2005. Upon return from Iraq, she became the Sergeant Major of Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools, Camp Johnson, NC. She retired as a Sergeant Major in 2007.

SgtMaj Ainsworth’s service awards include: Legion of Merit, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3d awd), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment ribbon (3d awd), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2d awd), Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2d awd), Navy Unit Commendation (3d awd), and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (7th awd).

Upon retirement from the Marine Corps, SgtMaj Ainsworth began working for the Marine Corps Engineer School as a contractor. She has been working as the Operations Chief for the Defeat the Device Branch, Counter- Improvised Explosive Device, Mobile Training Cadre for nearly 12 years. She believes it was the perfect transition from the Marine Corps.

“My sister, Nancy, had an amazing career in the Marine Corps. She retired at the rank of Sergeant Major – the highest enlisted rank one could achieve – after 26 years of active duty service. Nancy achieved what very few Marines achieve and what only a handful of female Marines achieve. She has earned the respect of many!”

NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” will be featured on the website with a biography and information about his or her service, and NFM Lending will make a $1,000 donation to a military or Veteran non-profit in the Salute’s name.

Selected NFM Salutes may choose from one of the following three non-profits: Platoon 22, AnySoldier, and the Gary Sinise Foundation. SgtMaj Ainsworth chose the Gary Sinise Foundation to receive this month’s donation. Explaining her decision, she stated, “This foundation supports and honors active duty military, veterans, as well as first responders. My son is a Raleigh, NC police officer. He was recently critically injured in the line of duty and is recovering at the Wake Med Hospital in Raleigh. A donation to the Gary Sinise Foundation would not only recognize my service but also the service of my son, whose job as a police officer seems exponentially more dangerous than my 25+ years in the Marine Corps!”

NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.

LINTHICUM, MD, June 1, 2018— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Major Bruce P. Person, USA, Retired, as the NFM Salute for June 2018.

MAJ Person was born and raised in Quincy, Massachusetts. At 21 years old, he voluntarily joined the Army in 1964, knowing his number would soon be called in the draft. This allowed him to somewhat direct his future and not be assigned to infantry. MAJ Person enlisted in Army intelligence and was surprised three years later when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry. He became an Airborne Ranger Special Forces officer with secondary specialty of military intelligence. He proudly served almost five years with Special Forces units, including the 7^th Special Forces Group Airborne (SFGA), 1^st SFGA, 5^th SFGA (MACVSOG) and Joint Casualty Resolution Center, as “A” Team Commander, Senior Advisor Vietnamese Paramilitary Force and Team Leader Recovery Operations.

MAJ Person underwent extensive cultural language training for targeted operational areas. His expertise with the Vietnamese language enabled him to accomplish many tasks assigned to him, especially briefing the Vietnamese staff every morning in their language. The ability to communicate with Vietnamese civilians, North Vietnamese, and Viet Cong soldiers was a game changer. MAJ Person served two tours in Vietnam; one conventional and one unconventional. The first tour he was diverted to the 23^rd Infantry Division and took command of the Delta Company, 4/31^st Infantry, 196^th Light Infantry Brigade. The second tour in Vietnam he went back to Special Forces where he served as Senior Advisor to a paramilitary battalion of Montagnards. The missions were to rescue Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACVSOG) cross border Recon Teams and Special Forces/Ranger Camps that were in trouble and needed quick reaction forces. His last Special Forces assignment was as an original recover team leader with the Joint Casualty Resolution Center (NKP) Royal Thai Airbase, Thailand where he helped to develop crash/gravesite recovery operations. MAJ Person’s team was on the very first mission back into Vietnam after the cease fire in 1973, to recover remains of U.S. personnel. His Special Forces training contributed tremendously to his success as a combat commander and unconventional operative.

MAJ Person served over 20 years in the U.S. Army before retiring as a Major, including five years in Southeast Asia; stationed in Korea, Okinawa, Vietnam, and Thailand. After transitioning from military life, he went on to become a He works as a retired mortgage originator and realtor, assisting his wife, Denise, with her real estate business He works as a retired mortgage originator and realtor, assisting his wife, Denise, with her real estate business. He is an active member of several organizations, including the American Legion Post 60, ALR Post 60, VFW Post 5637, Special Forces Association, 196^th LIB Association, and 31^st Infantry Association.

MAJ Person lives in Silver Spring, Maryland with his wife and their dog, Daisey.

MAJ Person was nominated by his friend, Nick Mautino, sales manager at NFM Lending.

“Bruce’s dedication to our country and his clients is second to none. He is always involved in volunteering to various military charities and motorcycle rides. Every time I see him I hear a new, remarkable story. I could sit and talk with him for hours. It’s no wonder why his clients love him so much. I nominated Bruce for the NFM Salute because of his past heroics in the military and his ongoing dedication to past and current Veterans. [He is] one of a kind and I’m honored to have met him and call him a friend.”

NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” will be featured on the website with a brief biography and information about his or her service, and NFM Lending will make a $1,000 donation to a military or Veteran non-profit in the Salute’s name. MAJ Person chose the Gary Sinise Foundation to receive this month’s donation.

Selected NFM Salutes may choose from one of the following three non-profits: Platoon 22, AnySoldier, and the Gary Sinise Foundation. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.

NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 29 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998 and this year is celebrating its 20th anniversary. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as “America’s Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender.™” For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter.

LINTHICUM, MD, May 1, 2018— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Senior Chief Machinery Technician James E. Sharp, USCG, Retired, as the NFM Salute for May 2018.

Senior Chief Sharp served in the United States Coast Guard from 1985 to 2011. He held many positions throughout his military career, including: Machinery Technician 3rd Class, Pollution Investigator, Boarding Officer, First Class Petty Officer, Machinery Technician Chief, Main Propulsion Senior Chief, and Chief of the Boat. Senior Chief Sharp was stationed primarily between Guam and Hawaii, with shorter stays in Taylor’s Island, MD and Seattle, WA. During his 26-year career, Senior Chief Sharp served on seven United States Coast Guard Cutters (USCGC): CAPE GEORGE, BASSWOOD, ASSATEAGUE, GALVESTON ISLAND, SASSAFRASS, WALNUT, and MIDGETT. He also worked with the Marine Safety Office (MSO) in Guam and the Naval Engineering Support Unit in Honolulu. The ships Senior Chief Sharp served on were involved in various tasks, such as: aids to navigation throughout the Western Pacific; search and rescue; investigating oil pollution incidents; foreign fishing vessel seizures; fishery violations; oil spill recovery; and vessel security, to name a few. Senior Chief Sharp also served in the Persian Gulf for the Iraq War.

Senior Chief Sharp is the recipient of 18 awards and medals, such as: Meritorious Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Coast Guard Commendation Medal.

Senior Chief Sharp retired from active duty in the United States Coast Guard in September of 2011. He worked as a Ship Repair Superintendent for two years before getting picked up by the US Navy at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as a Shipbuilding Specialist, acting as Government oversite for contractors on Aircraft Carriers. “I continue to back the US Coast Guard and all the jobs they do,” said Senior Chief Sharp. “Do more with less was always the saying, and we did it and I see that the service continues to do business this way and continues to answer the call and take care of the jobs set before them, Semper Paratus.”

Senior Chief Sharp resides with his wife Connie in Poulsbo, WA and enjoys boating, fishing, clamming, and being outdoors. They have one daughter, Bianca Lei.

“As a lifelong friend of Jamie, I was always amazed at the stories he told me of his duties while in the US Coast Guard. As the lesser-known U.S. Military Service, most people would associate it with protecting the waters around the U.S. mainland, but they cover all parts of the world. His 26-year career in the Coast Guard took him all over the world’s waters, patrolling the Pacific water for months on end. He always called me after getting back to port with new stories; he’s shared tales of rescues and pulling people from sinking boats during storms. Though maybe not the headline news type of military action most of us know, the Coast Guard is out there patrolling foreign waters and protecting the USA in ways we never hear about. Jamie was some of the first military to go to Iraq during the Gulf war. I commend him and his service to this country.”

NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” will be featured on the website with a brief biography and information about his or her service, and NFM Lending will make a $1,000 donation to a military or Veteran non-profit in the Salute’s name. Senior Chief Sharp chose the Gary Sinise Foundation to receive this month’s donation.

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All FHA Case Transfer Requests must be sent in writing via email to: FHAINFO@nfmlending.com. The request must include the FHA Case number, the new lender’s Origination ID or Sponsor ID, the full subject property address, and a letter signed and dated by the borrower expressing desire for the transfer.
Request for payoff should be submitted to the current servicer of the loan:
If your loan is being serviced by the NFM Lake Zurich Servicing Center, please call 1-866-352-6802 to request a payoff. You can also request a payoff via the online borrower portal, if you are a registered user on the portal.
If your loan is being serviced by the NFM Lending Linthicum Maryland Office, you may submit the request to Servicing@nfmlending.com or call 1-866-765-1827.
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