Severely injured and traumatized on the battlefield, a now-former Marine who was forced to retire got a brand new start Friday, thanks to a very generous donation.
Dozens of people gathered in Apopka to welcome their new neighbors — Sgt. Cory Lewis, his wife, Danielle, and their three boys — to their new, mortgage-free home.
The Lewis family arrived and walked a red carpet into their new home, which was donated by the Heroes to Homeowners program.
The newly renovated, three-bedroom home is the perfect fit for the family's needs.
"It's much bigger than our old house," Lewis said. He and his family had been living in a small apartment in Lady Lake.
Now, Lewis says his family has the chance to begin a new life as he continues to recover from injuries he suffered while he was deployed in Iraq.
"'Thank you' is not enough. There are not enough words to describe the generosity of the community, the donors and everybody that had a hand in this," Lewis said.
Luis Boria, an 88-year-old World War II veteran, was also there to welcome the Lewis family. He said he was overwhelmed with the outpouring of kindness for a fellow veteran.
"I've never seen anybody take the time to do something as nice as this," said Boria. "It's really great. It makes you feel a lot better."
Tom Kilgannon, with the Freedom Alliance, which runs the Heroes to Homeowners program, says it should make anyone who appreciates freedom feel better.
"I think it is important for nonprofit organizations, corporations and companies to show that we have not forgotten those who have served our country," Kilgannon said.