TAYLOR, Mich. – It took a minute, but eventually, Chris Holcomb and his family realized that they just walked through the door of their very own home.
"Thank everyone so much, thank you so much!" Chris Holcomb said.
Since being wounded in Afghanistan, it hasn't been easy for the former Marine to adjust back to civilian life. Job opportunities have been scarce and times have been tough.
"We're living in a rental right now," said Chris' wife, Darcy Holcomb. It was just temporary until we found out what direction we were going to go."
That's where volunteers, local businesses and national veterans' programs come in. It took 6 months to rehab the Holcomb's new Taylor home. But the surprises didn't stop there.
Thanks to Barton Malow, and the Helmets to Hardhats program, Chris now has an apprenticeship and future career in construction.
Schoolcraft College also donated a full-tuition scholarship to the Holcomb's 3-year-old daughter, Veyda.
For Chris, his life, and the lives of his family have changed for the better in a matter of an hour.
"Thank you to everyone," Holcomb said. "It means so much. It feels good that the community you grew up in, to reach out, I feel truly blessed."
Veyda might not fully understand what happened Thursday, but she knows one thing, she likes her new house.
"It's terrific," she said.