Veteran surprised with new house after her prior home damaged by hurricane

A.M. A LOCAL VETERAN WHOSE EATONVILLE HOME WAS DAMAGED DURING HURRICANE IAN GOT A LIFE CHANGING SURPRISE TODAY AS WESH 2’S MICHELLE MEREDITH REPORTS. A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. WE’RE BUILDING YOU A NEW HOUSE. PATRICIA GOLDEN WALKED INTO THE SURPRISE OF A LIFETIME. SHE LEARNED SHE’S GOING TO GET A BRAND NEW HOUSE, MORTGAGE FREE. PATRICIA WAS ALMOST SPEECHLESS. THEN THE GRATITUDE BEGAN TO FLOW. I’M JUST FLABBERGASTED. I JUST DON’T KNOW. I WANT TO RUN. I WANT TO SHOUT. I’M JUST SO APPRECIATIVE AND THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL. IF ANYONE NEEDS A NEW HOUSE, IT’S PATRICIA GOLDEN. SHE’S LIVED IN HISTORIC EATONVILLE ALL HER LIFE, BUT THE FAMILY HOME THAT’S GENERATIONS OLD HAS SEEN BETTER TIMES. THE HOUSE TOOK A HIT DURING HURRICANE IAN. PATRICIA’S HEALTH TOOK A HIT. DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER. AND ALTHOUGH IT KIND OF DOESN’T LOOK THAT BAD ON THE OUTSIDE, PATRICIA SAYS THE HOUSE IS UNLIVABLE. REALLY? HOME TO A BUNCH OF RATS. AND IF ANYONE DESERVES A NEW HOUSE, IT’S PATRICIA. SHE’S AN ARMY VET, DID TWO TOURS IN GERMANY AS A LEGAL CLERK AND COURT REPORTER IN THE LATE 70S AND 80, PLANS TO BUILD HER NEW HOUSE. TOOK A VILLAGE. MONEY FROM THE STATE, RESOURCES FROM THE GREATER ORLANDO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION AND BUILDING HOMES FOR HEROES. WE’VE TAKEN VETERANS THAT WERE HOMELESS, PUT THEM IN A HOUSE THEY CAN LIVE THE REST OF THEIR LIFE OUT FULLY, JUST LIKE A NORMAL PERSON. AND YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS WEIRD TO SAY THAT, BUT A LOT OF THESE VETERANS, YOU KNOW, THEY DON’T FEEL LIKE THEY’RE PART OF A COMMUNITY. INVITED TO THE CELEBRATION WERE OTHER MILITARY VETERANS WHO SAY BUILDING HOMES FOR HEROES HELPED THEM FEEL LIKE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS ORGANIZATION SHOWS THAT THEY ACTUALLY SEE US VETERANS AND THE SACRIFICE THAT WE MADE, AND WE GET, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN’T SAY A REWARD, BUT WE GET AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR OUR SACRIFICE. GOD IS REWARDING ME. THAT’S HOW I FEEL LIKE HE’S REWARDING ME. A REWARD GIVEN TO A HUMBLE SOLDIER FROM HER COMMUNITY FOR A LIFE WELL LIVED, COVERING ORANGE COUNTY AND MAITLAND MICHELLE MEREDITH WESH TWO NEWS. NOW, AFTER PATRICIA RETIRED, SHE WORKED FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE AS A LETTER CARRIER AND GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE NEW HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN LATER ON THIS YEAR. I MEAN, LIFE CHANGING SURPRISE IS PROBABLY AN UNDERSTATEMENT. THAT JUST TAKES A HUGE LOAD OFF OF HER BACK. ABSOLU

Updated: 11:06 AM CDT Sep 9, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Veteran surprised with new house after her prior home damaged by hurricane

Updated: 11:06 AM CDT Sep 9, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

An Army veteran from Eatonville, Florida, received the surprise of a lifetime when she learned she would be getting a brand-new, mortgage-free house.Patricia Golden looked confused when she walked into a room full of people waving American flags with patriotic songs playing in the background. When it was made clear what all the fuss was about, she let out a huge scream."I'm just flabbergasted ... I want to run. I want to shout. I am just so appreciative and thankful and grateful," Golden said.If there is anyone who needs a new home, it's Patricia Golden. Golden has lived in historic Eatonville all her life, but her family home, which is generations old, has seen better times. The house took a hit during Hurricane Ian, and Golden's health took a hit as well when she was diagnosed with cancer. Years of lack of care and money have consumed the house. Golden says it's unlivable, and the only creatures at home are a bunch of rats.Golden served in the Army and did two tours in Germany as a legal clerk and court reporter in the late 70s and mid-80s. Plans to build her a new house involved contributions from the state, resources from the Greater Orlando Builders Association, and Building Homes for Heroes.John Madison from Building Homes for Heroes said, "We have taken veterans who were homeless ... put them in a house they can live the rest of their life out fully ... like a normal person. I know that sounds weird, but a lot of these veterans, they don't feel like they are part of the community."Other veterans were also at the celebration. They talked about the impact and feeling of community that Building Homes for Heroes gave them."This organization shows that they actually see us veterans ... and the sacrifices that we made. We get an acknowledgment for our sacrifice," said Kaia Santana, a military veteran who, along with her family, is now living in their new house.After seeing all the plans for her new home, Golden was trying to take it all in."I feel like God is rewarding me ... that's how I feel that God is rewarding me," Golden said.A reward given to a humble soldier from her community for a life well lived.

An Army veteran from Eatonville, Florida, received the surprise of a lifetime when she learned she would be getting a brand-new, mortgage-free house.

Patricia Golden looked confused when she walked into a room full of people waving American flags with patriotic songs playing in the background. When it was made clear what all the fuss was about, she let out a huge scream.

"I'm just flabbergasted ... I want to run. I want to shout. I am just so appreciative and thankful and grateful," Golden said.

If there is anyone who needs a new home, it's Patricia Golden.

Golden has lived in historic Eatonville all her life, but her family home, which is generations old, has seen better times. The house took a hit during Hurricane Ian, and Golden's health took a hit as well when she was diagnosed with cancer. Years of lack of care and money have consumed the house. Golden says it's unlivable, and the only creatures at home are a bunch of rats.

Golden served in the Army and did two tours in Germany as a legal clerk and court reporter in the late 70s and mid-80s. Plans to build her a new house involved contributions from the state, resources from the Greater Orlando Builders Association, and Building Homes for Heroes.

John Madison from Building Homes for Heroes said, "We have taken veterans who were homeless ... put them in a house they can live the rest of their life out fully ... like a normal person. I know that sounds weird, but a lot of these veterans, they don't feel like they are part of the community."

Other veterans were also at the celebration. They talked about the impact and feeling of community that Building Homes for Heroes gave them.

"This organization shows that they actually see us veterans ... and the sacrifices that we made. We get an acknowledgment for our sacrifice," said Kaia Santana, a military veteran who, along with her family, is now living in their new house.

After seeing all the plans for her new home, Golden was trying to take it all in.

"I feel like God is rewarding me ... that's how I feel that God is rewarding me," Golden said.

A reward given to a humble soldier from her community for a life well lived.

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