Skip to main content

Charities fund new, high-tech house for injured Marine (Photos)

LOVETTSVILLE, Va. — A battle-wounded Marine who was burned on more than half of his body in Iraq now has a special new home.

The Semper Fi Fund and Tunnels to Towers charities teamed up to help build the home for Ronny “Tony” Porta, his wife Deicy and their son Kenneth Charles who is named after two of Porta’s colleagues killed by his side.

Porta was wounded in an IED blast in Iraq in 2007. He lost his right arm and has other medical issues including problems controlling his body temperature. He expects to need knee surgery soon that will put him in a wheelchair.

The home includes a kitchen sink that can raise and lower with the flip of a switch to make sure it is within reach. It also has other high-tech features such as a music system, lights and temperature controls that can be activated through a tablet or any number of control panels throughout the house.

The Portas were officially welcomed into their new home by hundreds of supporters, family and friends and dozens of American flags just a day before the Fourth of July.

Loudoun Co. unpaved roads make Va.’s endangered historic places list

Many people don't realize Loudoun County, Virginia, has 300 miles of unpaved roads until their car's navigation system takes them from a busy commuter route onto an unexpected gravel road. Preservation Virginia — a privately-funded, statewide historical preservation group — has added Loudoun County's rural road network to its "2020 Virginia's Most Endangered Historic Places" list.
Read Next Story