House Groundbreaking Held For Local Injured Marine
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - A former Marine, and now double amputee, is one step closer to having a new, functional home.
Thanks to the non-profit organization Helping A Hero Corporal Zach Briseno is receiving a new home. "They're wonderful, wonderful people," said Briseno's grandmother, Olivia Briseno. "I didn't know there are so many people so nice and so involved. I'm happy!"
Briseno was injured three years ago, in Iraq, when an improvised explosive device (IED), exploded under his Humvee.
Briseno is now able to get around with prosthetic legs, but was having a hard time moving around his Fort Worth apartment. The Marine was on hand for the groundbreaking as helpingahero.org kicked off his new home project.
'Well, a lot of people ya know, don't call you hero. I don't consider myself a hero one bit," Cpl. Briseno explained. "There's more men and women out there who have given more than what I have. I consider myself to be very lucky."
Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief disagreed and said Briseno, who is also a single father, is the true definition of 'hero'. "The injuries he suffered, while serving in Iraq were nearly fatal. But he fought his way back, back home to Fort Worth."
Briseno grew up in Forth Worth, and says he always wanted to follow both of his grandfather's footsteps and become a Marine. After being injured, Cpl. Briseno was awarded the Purple Heart for his sacrifice.
The groundbreaking was for a new 4 bedroom wheelchair accessible home. Briseno's 5-year old son was also on hand for the ceremonial groundbreaking. "It's going to be a big weight off my shoulders," Briseno said. "Of course every parent wants the best for their kids. Its a great community. Its going to be a great place for him to grow up and call home."
The Helping A Hero organization is is slated to award more than a dozen more homes to wounded heroes in early 2011.
Click here to find out more information about the non-profit organization Helping A Hero.
