On this episode of Military Makeover, meet disabled Army veteran and Florida resident Aaron Cornelius. In the spring of 2008, the U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Class was on his third tour in Iraq when shrapnel from a powerful IED blast hit him in the head, destroying the top of his skull and permanently blinding him. Cornelius was medically retired from the Army in 2010 after more than 20 years of service to his nation and was awarded the Bronze Star for his heroic service. His wife took over the household and the couple’s five daughters while he recovered from his injuries and adjusted to life without sight.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck again during Cornelius’s transition back to civilian life in the quiet town of Bradenton, Fla., when his wife passed away unexpectedly in 2010. Now 48 years old, this American hero lives in a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Bradenton, about an hour south of Tampa. He found love again and is married to his second wife Melissa.
Watch as the Military Makeover team begins their transformation on the Cornelius’ outdated home that is in desperate need of a makeover. Our partners at The Home Depot are with us as we repaint every room in the house using Behr paint products, as well as Eaton, which transforms Cornelius’ residence into a smart home; and Goodman Manufacturing, which offers a new HVAC system.
