Purple Heart recipient awarded Hampton home at Rose Parade

Retired Army Sgt. Dominic Perrotte III was presented with a giant red key to the home at the 126th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena Calif. on New Year's Day.

With a seat of honor in the Rose Parade and keys to a mortgage-free home, 2015 is already a shaping up as a decent year for Dominic Perrotte.

And he can reflect on his good fortune in Hampton, because thats where his new home will be.

Perrotte is a retired Army staff sergeant who received the Purple Heart while in Iraq. He was selected to ride in the 126th annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on New Years Day to represent Americans who have served in the military.

They rode in a stagecoach courtesy of the banking and financial services holding company Wells Fargo. The theme of this years parade was inspiring stories, and Wells Fargo teamed with the Military Warriors Support Foundation to make it a very special ride for Perrotte and his family.

During the parades closing ceremony, the Perrotte family was surprised with a mortgage-free home.

Although Perrotte is a western Pennsylvania native and has lived in Washington state for several years, he chose Hampton to be closer to family and friends, according to a Wells Fargo news release.

Perrotte could not be reached for comment Friday about his future plans, but his Facebook page was crowded with messages from well-wishers.

I just want to say thanks for all the congratulations, he wrote in response. We are definitely feeling the love. Super thanks to Wells Fargo Bank and the Military Warrior Support Foundation. They have changed our lives today.

The details of his service record were not available from the Army on Friday, but a bio supplied by Wells Fargo said the nine-year veteran was working with a recovery unit for a combat repair team in Baghdad when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Perrotte and his men remained on the battlefield for 30 hours until it was safe for them to be evacuated.

Perrotte deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan during his career. He is a native of Ford City, Pa., about 40 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, according to a story in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

The Military Warrior Support Foundation is a non-profit charity that aims to ease the transition from military to civilian life. It provides help with education and employment, plus recreational activities.

Its home donation program is called Homes4WoundedHeroes, which awards mortgage-free homes to combat wounded veterans.

Wells Fargo began working with the foundation in 2012. That same year, Wells Fargos Military Affairs program pledged $35 million over three years to help service members find housing and jobs, and to receive financial education. Of that, $30 million was set aside for home donations.

The foundation was responsible for selecting Perrotte, and Wells Fargo donated the home.

It all paid dividends Thursday for Perrotte, his wife, Kayla and their son.

During the closing ceremony, Perrottes wife wept as her husband accepted the key, prompting parade co-host Bob Eubanks to remark: If that doesnt bring a tear to your eye, what will?

The Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.

Lessig can be reached by phone at 757-247-7821.

Source: http://www.vagazette.com/news/dp-purple-heart-home-hampton-rose-bowl,0,4281045.story

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Rose Parade crowd braves cold, inspired by honored heroes

PASADENA >> It took Maria Roppel a week to ferry from Alaska to Washington and then drive to Pasadena, but she said the effort was worth it because seeing the Rose Parade on Thursday was a dream come true.

Since she was a 7-year-old living in Honduras, Roppel, now 36, said the first thing her entire family did on New Years Day was turn on the TV to watch a resplendent display.

So today, my family knows I am right here. Probably they are looking for me in the public, she said. This is my dream come true: coming here on the first day of the year and watching live.

More than 700,000 spectators lined a 5 1/2-mile route Thursday to watch the 126th Rose Parade, themed Inspiring Stories. Near-record breaking cold temperature on Jan. 1 did not deter crowds, who later peeled off bundles and layers as the sun shoved away temperatures just four degrees above freezing.

Photos: Rose Parade 2015 in images

People came from near and far to watch 40 arresting floral floats, 20 bands and 18 equestrian units.

For the 15th year, Ning Ning Yu, of Pasadena, watched the Rose Parade on Colorado Boulevard. The veteran spectator and her group of friends had a folding table loaded with potluck goodies: noodles, Asian pancakes, soy milk, hot dogs, yams and Starbucks coffee.

She said her gang has made going to the Rose Parade a tradition. Its easy, she said, when she feels so connected to it. Last year the Rose Queen was her daughters classmate, and four years ago, her Eagle Scout son was in the procession.

You feel like youre part of the community, Yu said. You cheer for them. Its like a celebration of the family and everyone involved.

Paul Smith and William Healey, a San Francisco couple, said they celebrated by kissing as the Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band marched by.

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Many Oregon Ducks fans drove to Pasadena for the 101st Rose Bowl Game. Tom Elam, from Powers, Ore., said his favorite aspect of the Rose Parade was the droves of people who lined the streets. Coming from a small city with less than 700 residents, seeing such a large crowd was quite something, he said. He applauded the city of Pasadena for pulling off a parade like this.

Yet Elam really came to the Southland to watch the Rose Bowl game. He ran into only one Florida State fan, but he said he wasnt surprised at the Seminoles low fan turnout in Pasadena.

Florida has been good for so long, and Oregon has only been good recently, he said.

As for Roppel, who made sure to capture stellar moments with her mobile phone, the Rose Parade was the main attraction. She has lived in Alaska for seven years, but her yen for the Rose Parade came way before that from fond childhood memories.

On Thursday she said she made new memories and friends. Its not just the music, color and excitement of the Rose Parade. Its feeling the crowds energy and sharing a cup of Joe and warm food with temporary neighbors, she said. The Rose Parade certainly helped her start 2015 on an inspired note, Roppel said.

Source: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/lifestyle/20150101/rose-parade-crowd-braves-cold-inspired-by-honored-heroes

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