“For neighbors in the Del Webb neighborhood in St. Johns County’s Nocatee community, Wednesday morning brought a welcome wagon like no other. A parade of golf carts led the way through Country Brook Avenue. In the last golf cart, sat a humble hero and his family. For Purple Heart veteran, Jerry Majetich, it marked the start of a dream becoming a reality.
“I don’t deserve this,” Majetich said. “I just did a job that I loved and believed in. It’s just overwhelming.”
Thanks to a partnership through PulteGroup’s “Built to Honor” program and the non-profit veteran support organization, Building Homes for Heroes, the Majetichs are building their new home– mortgage free. Following the welcome parade, a special groundbreaking was held. Neighbors throughout the community were there to mark the occasion and meet their future neighbors.
Retired Staff Sergeant Jerry Majetich burned over a third of his body after the vehicle he was in was hit by an IED in Iraq. The injuries included burns to his face and scalp, the loss of his ears and nose, right hand and fingers on his left hand to amputation, the removal of part of his intestines and stomach, a fractured spine, and fractured left foot. That’s not all.
“I had been shot four times,” Majetich said. “I was shot once in the right shoulder, 3 times in the right.”
Majetich spent the next 22 months in and out of the hospital, and has had more than 80 surgeries. Majetich’s wife, Mary-Ella, says she’s relieved the home will be modified in a way that addresses her husband’s needs.
“We knew that we needed adaptations for our home,” Mary-Ella Majetich said. “I think for us, the biggest thing is we knew that we could keep pulling forward and helping others who’ve been in similar situations.”
As the Majetichs found out, they’re in good company. Their new neighbor, Retired Navy Commander Michael Dionian, made the welcome official.
“Jerry and Mary-Ella, on behalf of Del Webb community, we’re so happy to welcome you home,” Dionian said before the crowd of neighbors.
According to Dionian, the neighborhood is filled with veterans….”
View the whole story here: https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/05/20/positively-jax-purple-heart-veteran-gifted-mortgage-free-home/