LOVETTSVILLE, Va. — A battle-wounded Marine who was burned on more than half of his body in Iraq now has…
A brand new smart home that was built for Ronny “Tony” Porta and his family. 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.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
People sing “God Bless America” at the dedication ceremony for the house.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
Ronny “Tony” Porta walks into his house for the first time.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
Porta demonstrates some of the house’s high tech controls that allow lights, music or heat and conditioning to be controlled from single panels around the house or through an iPad.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
Porta was wounded in an IED blast in Iraq in 2007.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
The kitchen has a sink and other areas that can be automatically raised and lowered. It allows Porta to use the areas if he is ever in a wheelchair. His wife, who is no taller than 5 feet, jokes that everything is her size.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
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.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
A look at the spacious master bathroom.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
A view of the master bedroom from the master bathroom.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
Some of the tech control panels in the house. All can be accessed on an iPad, too.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
A view from the second story of the house at the celebration in the front yard/driveway.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
Pictures of the Porta family hanging in the new house.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
The crowd chants, “pull back that flag” as the audience gets to see the home for the first time.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
Ronny “Tony” Porta and his wife Deicy kiss in their new smarthome.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
The Portas pose for a photo in their new house.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
The home includes a kitchen sink that can raise and lower with the flip of a switch to make sure it is within reach, and other high tech features like a music system, lights and temperature controls that can be activated through a tablet or any number of control panels throughout the house.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
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 July Fourth.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
A high-tech shower in the bathroom.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
Porta’s son plays on the piano in the new house.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
The high-tech automatic door system of the Porta’s new house.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
Porta and his wife walk up to their new house for the first time.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
Raising the flag on the flagpole outside the house, Porta said “this is the best part.”
(WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
The Porta family raises the flag outside the house.
(WTOP/Max Smith)
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.
