Manchester Despite the cloudy and wet morning, Bertalan and Alaina Gonci were able to see the light. They were on a piece of property that would eventually become their home.
“We’re simply overburdened,” Bertalan Gonci stated. All of this is fantastic, and we value your support.
“All of this is overwhelming me,” Alaina continued. At the moment, the pair resides in Marlton.
Sgt. First Class Bertalan Gonci enlisted in the Army in 1993 and served for 20 years before being medically and honorably discharged in 2017.
Throughout his tenure, Gonci was a paratrooper from 1997 until his retirement and an infantryman from 1993 to 1997. During Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, he served four combat deployments as a combat infantryman and paratrooper. Among these were two combat deployments to Iraq and two combat deployments to Afghanistan. He has won a lot of medals.
However, there is a fee for the service. Gonci has dual knee injuries, lumbar and cervical spine injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, memory problems, migraines, hearing loss, and combat-related PTSD.
He aspired to serve his nation and carry on his father’s legacy. His father was an Army Ranger in the Vietnam War.
He was the first soldier to be given a home on Cherry Street in the town’s Whiting neighborhood.
About ten years ago, we purchased the land, and four years ago, we began collaborating with Manchester Township to develop lots for the construction of these residences, stated Robert Calabro, Senior Vice President of Land at Lennar. He claimed that in order for them to begin the project, the town has been incredibly kind in eliminating fees.
Developer Lennar has completed numerous residential and business developments. According to their website, Building Homes For Heroes is their method of giving our country’s wounded warriors, first responders, and their families new hope. In order to help disabled veterans, first responders, and their families achieve greater heights and build better, brighter lives, the group constructs or renovates homes and gives them to them mortgage-free.
According to Jodie McCool, vice president of customer care for Lennar’s NJ/NY division, this site will house three veterans’ housing apartments. December will see the completion of the project.
The veterans who will live there have already been chosen, she said. The Goncis will be served by this initial unit.
“We want them to spend the holidays at home,” McCool stated.
Mayor Joseph Hankins, previous mayor and current Ocean County Commissioner Robert Arace, Council members James Vaccaro, Michele Zolezi, Craig Wallis, and Sandy Drake, as well as a large number of township police, firemen, and emergency medical personnel, attended a groundbreaking ceremony.
“We are grateful to everyone who helped us get here,” Calabro remarked. Over the years, Lennar has given numerous houses to worthy beneficiaries, including veterans and first responders. We are thrilled to be able to accomplish this since it is the first one we have been able to perform in New Jersey. As you continue down the street to your right, you will eventually come across two more houses for two more worthy applicants. We appreciate all of Building Homes for Heroes’ assistance and backing.
According to him, they performed an excellent job of screening candidates and escorting Lennar to the last interview, where we unanimously approved their (Gonci) selection to be the owner of this Cherry Street house.
Tracy White, the project manager for Homes for Heroes, spoke to The Manchester Times about her group. It all began when our founder, feeling overwhelmed and powerless after 9/11, found himself in the wreckage. He vowed to make a difference, and our first house was given to us in 2006.
In 2025, we plan to aid 5,000 veterans and reach our 500th home as part of our ongoing 50, 500, 5,000 program. “We have a number of programs to assist veterans,” White continued. We have a number of projects throughout New Jersey, the Philadelphia region, and even Chicago. We have partnerships with a number of builders and might be working with Lennar on two more right now.
Several shovels were inserted into a pile of dirt for the event, while a huge American flag was suspended from a Whiting fire engine close by. A Fork In The Road, a township-based company, provided some complimentary meals from their food truck for the occasion.
We are extremely grateful to Ocean County and Manchester for their financial support, without which we would not be where we are today. Calabro went on.
“It is a pleasure to attend such a monumental event,” said Mayor Hankins. This groundbreaking signifies more than just the beginning of a structure. It demonstrates the community’s steadfast dedication to people who have made significant contributions. I had the honor of being on council during the early stages of this extremely exceptional project, which started in 2023 before I was elected mayor. Our current commissioner was mayor at the time, and he put in a lot of effort to advance this concept.
The mayor went on to say, “We take great pride in supporting our Veterans not just in words but in meaningful action.”
We’ll be calling you back here in a few months and giving them the keys to their new house, Calabro stated. They helped choose the particular house and some of its characteristics, and I have no doubt that we will keep collaborating with them to make this place truly fantastic. By the end of 2025, we will make every effort to make this house as close to ideal as possible.
