Veteran gifted mortgage-free home in Menomonee Falls

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A veteran was gifted a mortgage-free home in Menomonee Falls Friday, Aug. 11.

It was all thanks to Operation Finally Home.

Jesse Frewerd, his wife Katie and their son Dean received the keys to the brand-new three-bedroom home in front of community members, elected officials and police and fire personnel. Frewerd was a U.S Army specialist and was wounded while serving in Iraq. He read an emotional thank you letter from the podium. 

"In another life, I may have never made it home from my deployment. I could've been killed in Iraq due to an IED explosion. In another life, my mental illness could've got the best of me where I never recovered," said Frewerd. "Yet, in this life, I have been touched by the grace of God. It is his divine guidance I stand here today -- humbled and overwhelmed." 

The Frewerds were speechless when they walked into their home for the first time. 

"With all the natural light, it's like walking into heaven," Katie said. 

The Frewerds can't wait to pay it forward by volunteering their time in Menomonee Falls. 

"Not only is Wisconsin and Wisconsin citizens helping out one of the finest among us, someone who has served, sacrificed -- and his wife, that was there beside him, but they're demonstrating what made this country great," said U.S. Senator Ron Johnson. "Just good people helping each other out. To me, that's the real story here today. This is what America's all about." 

This is the seventh home that Belman Homes and Operation Finally Home have gifted to a veteran.