Purple Heart Combat Veteran receives new home for his service on Veterans Day

NOCATEE, Fla. — A military combat veteran received a special surprise Thursday morning on Veterans Day for him and his family

It happened at the Del Webb Nocatee community in Ponte Vedra.

Action News Jax reporter Alicia Tarancon was there for the big reveal when Purple Heart veteran Jerry Majetich walked through the doors of his new home.

The Army Staff Sergeant couldn’t hide his surprise.

“It’s just going to change our life and the community here has been so welcoming,” Majetich said.

Majetich is an Army combat veteran who was severely hurt in Iraq during an IED explosion.

100% of his face and scalp were burned as well as 37% of his body.

He lost his ears, nose and most of his right hand.

Majetich suffers from PTSD and traumatic brain injury and so far he’s had over 80 surgeries.

This home was made was possible through PulteGroup’s Build to Honor program.

The program works with non-profit organizations to find veterans who have been injured in service.

They helped build a home that is accessible for Jerry Majetich.

“Just the fact that everybody got together and did this for us and sacrificed for us so that you know things can lighten the burden for us for what we go through,” Mary-Ella Majetich, Jerry’s wife, said.

Now this family will get to start a life in their dream home…mortgage-free.

“Many times today people thank me for my sacrifice, and I think it’s important, but I didn’t sacrifice anything. This nation has given me everything. I just serve the nation that I love,” Majetich said.

And many of his new neighbors are also proud veterans too.

The family officially moves into their new home today.

The build to honor program was started in 2013 --- so far it has built and donated more than 60 *mortgage-free* homes to veterans across the country.

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