NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — Sometimes the biggest heroes don’t consider themselves as such.
"I wouldn’t consider myself a hero," said Jose Rivera, a staff sergeant with the U.S. Marine Corps. "I consider myself a person that loves his country and went out to protect it.”
A national organization this week make sure Rivera knew his heroism wouldn't go without a proper thank you. Helping a Hero, which works to empower wounded veterans by providing a home that meets their needs, gifted his family with the keys to his brand new house this week in collaboration with Great Endeavor Homes.
It comes mortgage-free. Rivera's daughter, Celeste, loves her new room.
"It is exactly what I asked for," Celeste exclaimed. "I really love this room."
Rivera says he experienced many close calls while serving in the Marines, but his decision to serve was prompted when he and his cousin were working in the Twin Towers in 2001.
“We were walking down to the train station, and while we were walking down, I realized that I left my badge at home," Rivera said. "So I went back home to grab my badge and my cousin took the train to work.”
After Rivera boarded the train, riders were told to evacuate. After leaving the tunnel, he heard a big explosion.
"I look up, I just see everything falling down," Rivera said. "I was going in and out of consciousness.”
Jose survived, but his cousin didn’t.
“Life was different after 9/11. Everything changed.”
In the Marines, Rivera endured severe injuries including to his left leg, forcing doctors to amputate it.
“The doctors were able to get some miracle done, I was able to get myself together. Once I got the OK, (I) joined my unit again.”
“The thing that is so special about Staff Sergeant Jose Rivera is that he has survived two life threatening situations,” added Meredith Iler, founder of Helping a Hero. "Helping a Hero cares about our heroes and our heroes support one another.”
Rivera is overwhelmed with gratitude celebrating his new life in his family’s new home this Easter weekend.
“God knows what he’s doing," Rivera said. "He set this up for a reason.”
If you’d like to assist with Helping a Hero’s mission, click here.
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