CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For Cole Masear’s son, Jake Carroll, joining the military after high school just made sense.

“His father served in the 82nd Airborne. His grandfather was in the 101st Airborne,” Cole Masear said. “When he enlisted, and we got to go see him graduate, it was one of the most special things we had ever seen.”

But in November 2010, Masear, who is Jake's mother, and Jake’s stepfather Bill, got the unexpected knock on their front door.

What You Need To Know

  •  Cole Masear's son, Jake Carroll, joined the U.S. Army after high school

  •  In November of 2010, Carroll died while serving in Afghanistan

  •  Masear began 'Run the Jake' 5K to raise money for military veteran projects

  • This year they donated $80,000 to Purple Heart Homes to build a home in honor of Jake

“I remember opening the door, and they were just standing there,” Bill Masear said. “I couldn't, I couldn't let them in. I didn't want her to see. And she kept saying, who's there? Who's there? And I couldn't, I couldn't tell her. So I just stepped out of the way. And, you know, she just hit the floor crying, not my Jake. And, you know, they didn't have to say anything. We knew what that meant.”

Their lives were changed in an instant, while giving them a new purpose at the same time. Seven years later, they began Run the Jake 5K event, to honor Jake’s legacy and raise money for veteran organizations.

“So we want Jake's life just to be remembered through other people also,” Bill Masear said. “And life shouldn't stop because of tragedy or suffering. It has to continue on.”

When the Masears learned about Purple Heart Homes, a nonprofit out of Iredell County that builds homes for veterans in need, they wanted to donate a home in Jake’s honor. This year, they donated $80,000 to Purple Heart Homes to build a home in honor of Jake.

But the organization took it one step further. They combined Jake’s love of NASCAR with the events to honor the fallen during the Coca-Cola 600 race by bringing the build to the track.

With crews on site all week, Paul Cockerham with Purple Heart Homes says the opportunity gives fans a chance to see the build in action, and tour a finished model of what their organization gives to veterans.

“We help about 200 veterans a year, and our application pool we receive, and it's really ramped up in the past two years,” Cockerham said. “We receive an average of about three and a half applications per day for our services.”

For the Masear family, this race weekend is even more special as they help with the build and ensure Jake’s legacy lives on.

“We always told each other that we loved each other with all our heart,” said Cole Masear. “So I thought how perfect that was. So I wrote just a little note that will forever be there, that this is Jake's house, and I love you with all my heart a lot.”

Crews worked on the home build all weekend long. Once it’s finished, Purple Heart Homes says they will work to find a plot of land in Iredell County to place the home on, as well as a veteran to call it home.