It was an inspiring and emotional day in Temple Saturday as an injured veteran received the gift of a lifetime.
The national non profit 'Homes for our Troops' made their way to Central Texas to give one paralyzed veteran the opportunity to be independent once again.
Staff Sergeant Jack Pierce spent 16-years serving our country in the Marine Corps.
But during his third tour in Afghanistan, he was hit with something that changed his life forever.
"I remember everything from the day including the blast," said Marine Staff Sergeant Jack Pierce.
Sergeant Pierce's convoy was hit, he and his team received multiple severe injuries, two of them not surviving.
"After the hit I knew right away I was paralyzed. I had no sensation down there so I knew, I knew that I was paralyzed," said Pierce.
After therapy and hard work, Sergeant Pierce received a grant from the VA for 63,000 dollars.
But that amount wouldn't put a dent into what he was in need of.
Saturday many of his worries came to an end when Homes for our Troops gave Sergeant Pierce and his family, a wheelchair modified home.
And as he takes his first round in his new home, there's a sense of relief knowing he now has more independence.
The home is built with 155 special adaptations like an angled mirror, lowered microwave and automatic door opener.
"We say that this is not charity, but this it's a moral obligation to take care of our veterans who have served and sacrificed so much for our country," said Homes For Our Troops President Tim McHale.
"I mean I'm nobody special, but its just been amazing just to see this community come together and how they take care of their service members is wonderful," said Pierce.
But for everyone here, sergeant Pierce is someone special and deserving of everything he's received.
If you'd like to donate to the non-profit, you can find that information at: www.homesforourtroops.org.
