MANCHESTER – Army Sgt. First Class Bertalan Gonci and his wife Alaina have lots to be thankful for. They recently picked up the keys to their new Whiting home thanks to the efforts of Building Homes for Heroes and Lennar Gift Mortgage.
The couple toured their new home on Cherry Street during a special ceremony.
The event was held just days after Veterans Day and it also honored those who have served in the military. Gonci and his wife, who lived in south Jersey, said they were happy to now have stability and also a true place to call home.
Gonci was emotional while speaking to The Manchester Times. “It is a very overwhelming feeling with all the support we have gotten. We just can’t believe this is happening. We thank everyone – the builders, those who donated, everybody.”
He described what he saw inside the house saying, “I almost fell down. It was amazing and beautiful. It is hard for me to describe. Everybody put so much into the house and it shows. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
His wife cried tears of happiness as they exited their vehicle receiving a royal cheer. Guests from the Manchester EMS, fire department, police department, Lennar, Home Depot and Building Homes for Heroes joined township residents from the neighborhood and other corners of the township to welcome them, waving small American flags.
Building Homes for Heroes spokesman David Weingrad said the organization works to provide homes – and home modifications – for veterans, emergency first responders and their families, and provides further services along their road to recovery to help them live a promising and fulfilling life ahead.
Guests included 9th District Senator Carmen Amato, Assemblyman Gregory Myhre, Ocean County Commissioner Robert Arace, Manchester Mayor Joseph Hankins, Council Vice President James Vaccaro and Councilwoman Sandy Drake along with Police Chief Antonio Ellis and members of the mayor’s staff.
Lennar Senior Vice President of Lane Robert Calabro and Lennar Vice President of Customer Experience Jodie McCool provided opening remarks at the event, having returned to the site after the groundbreaking ceremony that was held back on a rainy, overcast morning in June in sharp contrast to the Friday morning key ceremony with blue skies and clear weather.
During that first ceremony McCool promised the couple that their home would be completed by December. “Our goal is to get them into their homes for the holidays.” As it turns out they will be moving in a little earlier than expected.
Mayor Hankins had the joy of presenting the couple with the keys to their new home and he thanked 9th District Senator Amato and Assemblyman Myhre for presenting a proclamation to Gonci and his wife on the occasion.
“We extend our warmest welcome our deepest gratitude for your service and sacrifice. Today is not only about handing over the keys to a house but celebrating a new beginning,” the mayor remarked. “This project was started when Mayor (now Commissioner) Arace was here and one of his things was to make sure that the inspections department helped to get this project done in a timely manner and that was accomplished. This is a safe house.”
Arace said he was very pleased to see this first home for a veteran built and was happy for the couple. The parcel of land owned by Lennar will serve as three housing units for veterans. The Gonci couple was the first.
Members of the Crestwood Village 7 Women’s Club presented several gifts in the form of a plant, a basket of home items and a $500 gift card to the couple during the ceremony.
After the ceremony, some attendees got to tour the interior of the new home. Free food was served up by the Fork in the Road food truck which was parked off to the side of the property as part of the celebration.
Representatives of Lowes Home Improvement and General Electric were also present having also supported the effort to complete the home. General Electric Area Sales Manager Tony Volde said “we have a strong partnership with Lennar. As soon as they called and said they had a home for heroes we were there. People really do care.”
Building Homes for Heroes President and General Counsel Kimberly Vesey said, “gifting a home to a family is truly a miracle, especially to people who have sacrificed so much to protect our country and our way of life. I know what it is like to be a family member that doesn’t know what to do next. What kind of future awaits our service members who are severely wounded serving their country?”
She said the organization’s founder, Andy Pujol gave her the answer and helped her brother who was severely injured serving in the military, saying to her, “we are going to find a place where he can live independent and live on his own.”
Pujol spoke about how his organization began in 2006 and how it was inspired after he volunteered in the search and rescue efforts at the World Trade Center following the September 11th attacks. “Now on this 444th home to me I believe it is a true miracle. I believe it is all part of a true miracle.”
Gonci served in the U.S. Army for over 20 years before his medical retirement in 2017. Following in the footsteps of his father who served as an Army Ranger during Vietnam, Sgt. First Class Gonci completed four combat tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His years of service resulted in combat-related PTSD, a traumatic brain injury, and knee and spinal injuries. He is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, including the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge among many other honors recognizing his service and sacrifice.
