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S.I. Groundbreaking Held For Iraq Veteran's New Home

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- He made huge sacrifices for his country and now an Iraq War veteran is getting a new home on Staten Island.

Thursday, Brendan Marrocco was at the groundbreaking for his soon to be constructed home on Holten Avenue.

Marrocco Home
Photo/Peter Haskell

The home is being constructed for him by the Stephen Siller Children's Foundation and Building Homes for Heroes.

WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reports that many of the materials for the project were donated and fundraising will be used to pay for the land.

On Easter Sunday 2009, a rocket tore off Marrocco's limbs.  He is the only surviving quadruple amputee from Iraq or Afghanistan, but with the groundbreaking, Marrocco will soon regain his independence.

"I hate relying on people, I really do. The fact that I'll be able to do it myself, do everything myself...it really means a lot to me," Marrocco told Haskell.

Anthony Grasonti of Building Homes for Heroes says the house will have everything Marrocco needs.

"We're going to have faucets that turn on, you just tap them, you don't have to turn any handles. Things like that. Lights when you walk into the room or come into the room, they turn on," Grasonti said.

The goal is to have the house finished by the end of the year.

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