Laura
04-21-2010, 09:31 AM
from The NY Daily News:
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/04/21/2010-04-21_quadruple_quadriplegic_iraq_veteran_returns_to_ brand_new_home_courtesy_of_his_co.html
Quadruple quadriplegic Iraq veteran returns to brand new home courtesy of his community
BY Stephanie Gaskell
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, April 21st 2010, 7:49 AM
B. Smith for News"I don't think I could ever really thank them," said the humble 23-year-old vet from Huguenot, who will share his new pad with his fiancee.
Sunshine for NewsThis is a montage of pictures and words honoring PFC Brendan Marrocco which hangs on a wall of VFW Post 551 in Middle Village. Related NewsArticlesEditorial: Obtuse RangelNew bionic hand helps amputee get her life back No butts about it: Navy bans smoking on submarinesVoice of the People for April 11, 2010Hamill: Making wish upon a star come trueWelcome home, soldier.
A Staten Island veteran who lost both of his arms and legs in Iraq is coming back home - and he'll move into a brand new house courtesy of his community.
The Stephen Siller Children's Foundation and Building Homes for Heroes are teaming up to build a state-of-the-art, wheelchair accessible home near Wolf's Pond Lake for Spec. Brendan Marrocco.
"I don't think I could ever really thank them," said the humble 23-year-old vet from Huguenot.
Local businesses are donating labor and materials and hope to have the house built by Christmas.
"I'm excited, I've never had a home to myself," Marrocco said.
Just last Easter, Marrocco was hit by an explosively formed projectile, a deadly and powerful new device that can pierce armor. A fellow soldier was killed in the attack.
He's believed to be the only quadruple quadriplegic to survive the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Marrocco has been recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and was fitted with prosthetics.
"I've really taken some great strides," he said.
Marrocco is learning to walk again on special prosthetic legs and hopes to have arm transplants. He said moving back home is a real motivating factor in his recovery.
"It gives me another goal to work toward," he said.
And the war hero won't be living alone - his fiancee, Kate, will enjoy their new home together.
"I'm so happy to find somebody to really care about me," he said. "You don't think you're ever going to find that."
The home -- which will be built by J. Smith Construction, a Staten Island firm owned by Marine Corps veteran Jerry Smith -- will be outfitted with special features to make it easier for Marrocco and his bride to start their new life together.
Marrocco has only one request: a huge garage.
The Army vet is a big fan of car racing and hopes to one day have a race car of his own.
"Who are we to say you can't do anything?" said his proud dad, Alex Marrocco. "It's been a roller coaster, but you try and focus on the positive."
Organizers still need to raise about $500,000 to get it all done.
"Brendan has given so much for his country and has sacrificed so much that it is our duty - whether civilians or veterans - to give back to him," said Frank Siller, whose firefighter son, Stephen, was killed on 9/11. "We can never give back what he has given to us."
To donate, visit www.tunneltotowersrun.org or www.buildinghomesforheroes.com.
sgaskell@nydailynews.com
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RECENT COMMENTS FROM DAILY NEWS READERS4 comments | See All Comments » To comment, Register or Log In
[Discussion guidelines]
FitDiva
5:36:55 AM
Apr 21, 2010
Bless u for your service to this country and for the very freedom (like typing on this computer) that we all take forgranted every day. May u and ur lovely fiance enjoy a plethora of joyful times in your new home. What a Christ present!! I will donate the money I would have otherwise spent on an expensive night on the town. Keep that positive outlook and the sun will always shine. And to the builders and volunteers, blessings thricefold.
Report Offensive Post
WeeGee2000
6:23:57 AM
Apr 21, 2010
"Quadruple quadriplegic?' There's no such thing. Quadruple amputee is one thing (the term is self-explanatory), quadriplegic is another (a severing or severe compression of the spinal cord below the vertebrae of the neck, leading to partial or complete paralysis of all four limbs).
Report Offensive Post
ABYSS
6:39:19 AM
Apr 21, 2010
"I don't think I could ever really thank them," said the humble 23-year-old vet from Huguenot. - No, PFC Brendan Marrocco, WE can never really thank you for your service brave sir. I wish you and your fiance only happiness in the future.
Report Offensive Post
enigmablack
6:58:16 AM
Apr 21, 2010
That extra 500K should come directly from the feds. As a matter of fact they should double it. These soldiers sacrifice so much while politicians make money hand over fist and send the children of the poor and middle class to die fighting to protect someone else's interests. This private lost all his limbs fighting for less than $2,000 a month, yet Cheny made millions and nothing seems to be able to kill him. Ain't life grand?
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/04/21/2010-04-21_quadruple_quadriplegic_iraq_veteran_returns_to_ brand_new_home_courtesy_of_his_co.html#ixzz0lk1Ei5 Ls
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/04/21/2010-04-21_quadruple_quadriplegic_iraq_veteran_returns_to_ brand_new_home_courtesy_of_his_co.html
Quadruple quadriplegic Iraq veteran returns to brand new home courtesy of his community
BY Stephanie Gaskell
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, April 21st 2010, 7:49 AM
B. Smith for News"I don't think I could ever really thank them," said the humble 23-year-old vet from Huguenot, who will share his new pad with his fiancee.
Sunshine for NewsThis is a montage of pictures and words honoring PFC Brendan Marrocco which hangs on a wall of VFW Post 551 in Middle Village. Related NewsArticlesEditorial: Obtuse RangelNew bionic hand helps amputee get her life back No butts about it: Navy bans smoking on submarinesVoice of the People for April 11, 2010Hamill: Making wish upon a star come trueWelcome home, soldier.
A Staten Island veteran who lost both of his arms and legs in Iraq is coming back home - and he'll move into a brand new house courtesy of his community.
The Stephen Siller Children's Foundation and Building Homes for Heroes are teaming up to build a state-of-the-art, wheelchair accessible home near Wolf's Pond Lake for Spec. Brendan Marrocco.
"I don't think I could ever really thank them," said the humble 23-year-old vet from Huguenot.
Local businesses are donating labor and materials and hope to have the house built by Christmas.
"I'm excited, I've never had a home to myself," Marrocco said.
Just last Easter, Marrocco was hit by an explosively formed projectile, a deadly and powerful new device that can pierce armor. A fellow soldier was killed in the attack.
He's believed to be the only quadruple quadriplegic to survive the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Marrocco has been recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and was fitted with prosthetics.
"I've really taken some great strides," he said.
Marrocco is learning to walk again on special prosthetic legs and hopes to have arm transplants. He said moving back home is a real motivating factor in his recovery.
"It gives me another goal to work toward," he said.
And the war hero won't be living alone - his fiancee, Kate, will enjoy their new home together.
"I'm so happy to find somebody to really care about me," he said. "You don't think you're ever going to find that."
The home -- which will be built by J. Smith Construction, a Staten Island firm owned by Marine Corps veteran Jerry Smith -- will be outfitted with special features to make it easier for Marrocco and his bride to start their new life together.
Marrocco has only one request: a huge garage.
The Army vet is a big fan of car racing and hopes to one day have a race car of his own.
"Who are we to say you can't do anything?" said his proud dad, Alex Marrocco. "It's been a roller coaster, but you try and focus on the positive."
Organizers still need to raise about $500,000 to get it all done.
"Brendan has given so much for his country and has sacrificed so much that it is our duty - whether civilians or veterans - to give back to him," said Frank Siller, whose firefighter son, Stephen, was killed on 9/11. "We can never give back what he has given to us."
To donate, visit www.tunneltotowersrun.org or www.buildinghomesforheroes.com.
sgaskell@nydailynews.com
Share retweet 5
Email Print Yahoo! BuzzDIGG Delicious Share Newsvine Fark Furl Mixx Reddit Stumble Upon Furl Related TopicsBrendan Marrocco
Staten Island
Iraq
Middle East
Technology
Science and Technology
Medical Technology
Medical Devices
Health and Fitness
Jerry Smith
Prosthetic Limbs
Sports
Ads by Yahoo!
Stuyvesant Town Manhattan, NY Apartments
Stop commuting to nightlife - vibrant apartments in the heart of NYC.
(www.stuytown.com)
NYC Employment Agencies
Find local employment agencies and staffing firms in your area.
(yellowpages.com)
Public Records Search
Look up any person's public records. Search for any public record now.
(Public.StatewideGovRecords.com)
RECENT COMMENTS FROM DAILY NEWS READERS4 comments | See All Comments » To comment, Register or Log In
[Discussion guidelines]
FitDiva
5:36:55 AM
Apr 21, 2010
Bless u for your service to this country and for the very freedom (like typing on this computer) that we all take forgranted every day. May u and ur lovely fiance enjoy a plethora of joyful times in your new home. What a Christ present!! I will donate the money I would have otherwise spent on an expensive night on the town. Keep that positive outlook and the sun will always shine. And to the builders and volunteers, blessings thricefold.
Report Offensive Post
WeeGee2000
6:23:57 AM
Apr 21, 2010
"Quadruple quadriplegic?' There's no such thing. Quadruple amputee is one thing (the term is self-explanatory), quadriplegic is another (a severing or severe compression of the spinal cord below the vertebrae of the neck, leading to partial or complete paralysis of all four limbs).
Report Offensive Post
ABYSS
6:39:19 AM
Apr 21, 2010
"I don't think I could ever really thank them," said the humble 23-year-old vet from Huguenot. - No, PFC Brendan Marrocco, WE can never really thank you for your service brave sir. I wish you and your fiance only happiness in the future.
Report Offensive Post
enigmablack
6:58:16 AM
Apr 21, 2010
That extra 500K should come directly from the feds. As a matter of fact they should double it. These soldiers sacrifice so much while politicians make money hand over fist and send the children of the poor and middle class to die fighting to protect someone else's interests. This private lost all his limbs fighting for less than $2,000 a month, yet Cheny made millions and nothing seems to be able to kill him. Ain't life grand?
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/04/21/2010-04-21_quadruple_quadriplegic_iraq_veteran_returns_to_ brand_new_home_courtesy_of_his_co.html#ixzz0lk1Ei5 Ls