Volunteers build injured Marine a home

GLASTONBURY, Conn. (WTNH) - Volunteers came together to help build a home for a Connecticut Marine who was injured in Afghanistan.

H.E.A.R.T. 9/11 and Purple Heart Homes are coming together to build a new house for a New Britain Marine who served his country so nobly.

"As long as you are a service-connected disabled veteran, that's where Purple Heart Homes falls in," said co-founder John Gallina.

Friday morning a lot began falling or rising into place on Marine Corporal Manny Jiminez's new home.

The 23-year-old's life changed forever on August 1, 2010. He was on foot patrol in Afghanistan when a bomb took his left arm, the hearing in his left ear, and most of the sight in his left eye. Now he's getting a little back, as volunteers build him a new home in Glastonbury. The labor is coming from folks who know a thing or two about sacrifice.

"The men and women you see behind here are the police, firemen, construction trade union members that worked during the rescue recovery mission of the World Trade Center," said H.E.A.R.T. 9/11 President Bill Keegan.

The men who founded Purple Heart Homes aren't just armchair altruists, they've been in the trenches too.

"My partner and I were injured in Iraq in 2004, and when we came home the community came together and built a house for Dale, as he's a double-amputee," Gallina said.

The 60 or so philanthropists are working quickly.

"By tomorrow we should be completely finished with Manny's home as far as framing and roofing go," Keegan said.

All for a Marine who isn't letting his injuries slow him down.

"I'm training for the Boston Marathon, and then right after that, I'll be going out to Colorado, competing at the Warrior Games, so that'll be pretty interesting," Jiminez said.

Not quite ready yet, to trade in "Semper Fi" for "Home, sweet home," but soon.

"...the community.  They gave so much, and I want to see how much I can give back as well, help Little League or volunteer somewhere around town," Jiminez said.

The new home should be ready by mid-June. 

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