September 1, 2006 is the day Rick Yarosh’s life changed forever. It was on that day that the now retired Army sergeant was hit with an improvised explosive device (IED) in Iraq.

The explosion went through the bottom of the Bradley fighting vehicle he was in, hit the fuel tank and blanketed Yarosh and his crew in flames. But Yarosh has a unique way of looking at the tragedy.

“That day was the best day of my life," the retired soldier said. "That day was the best day of my life because look where I sit right now in this beautiful home. Look at my beautiful family that I’m so blessed to have. Look at the people I’ve met because of what happened to me.”

Speaking of his home, Yarosh received the gift of a lifetime two years ago. The 9/11-based Tunnel to Towers Foundation gifted him a new smart home for all of the sacrifices he made for his country. Its features allow Yarosh to easily get around, despite not having full use of his hands, and just one leg.

“I have an app here that will control all the lighting, all the blinds, the heating and air-conditioning,” Yarosh said.

But as amazing as the gift of a home was for Yarosh, it’s perhaps another gift that means just as much. The founder of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation who gifted him the home also presented him with him a plaque after losing his own brother in the 9/11 attacks.

“When Frank gave this to me, he said they never found his brother, and this steel was from the same tower that Steven was in, so Frank says Steven is a part of this because they never found him," Yarosh said. "He’s a part of this steel, and it’s a prized possession of mine. One of the most amazing things I own.”

Yarosh enlisted in the Army in 2004, three years after the 9/11 attacks. He says he was motivated, not by anger, but pride.

“What most people would think, 'oh, you want to go kill terrorists,' and that’s not what it was about for me," Yarosh said. "After 9/11, I saw something amazing in our country, and that was us banding together and putting our arms around each other, and how good that felt, and how proud I was of our country.”

Today, when he’s not speaking to schools across the country, Yarosh and his wife operate a sub shop in Vestal. With red, white and blue all over the walls, Yarosh hopes to motivate each and every customer.

“When people come in here, I want them to know that they’re a part of our American dream, and also that the American dream is available to everyone, and right now with how things go, people have a hard time with that. But I truly believe the American dream can be had,” he said.

With each sub that’s made, with each customer that he speaks to, Yarosh is nothing but grateful for how a tragedy changed his life forever.