Volunteer Group Presents Long Island Veteran With Renovated Home

SELDEN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - A Suffolk County veteran received the gift of a lifetime Wednesday morning.

Building Homes for Heroes, a non-profit volunteer organization with offices in New York and Florida, presented Marine Lance Corporal William Ventura with a newly renovated handicap accessible home.
As WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reports, Ventura is paralyzed from the waist down.

"Until I got hurt, I didn't know about all the outside organizations that come to help," said Ventura.

Dozens of volunteers along with community leaders were on hand for the ribbon cutting.

Also in attendance was Gold Star mom Theresa Martinelli.

"Of course without them this country wouldn't be what it is," said Martinelli.

"They feel like family. They have changed my life," added Ventura, who's now looking forward to a big Thanksgiving dinner.

Building Homes for Heroes works to rebuild the lives and support the men and women who were injured serving the country in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to the group's website.