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Marine's widow gifted SUV thanks to Massachusetts Fallen Heroes

BOSTON — The widow of a Massachusetts Marine killed in action three years ago is now the recipient of a very generous gift.

The donation she picked up Tuesday is something that will make an immediate impact in her life.

With the turn of a key, Erin Vasselian became the new owner of a SUV.

"I've never had a car like this in my life, I've had one car before. It was a 2000 Taurus," Vasselian said.

Three years ago, her husband, Marine Sergeant Danny Vasselian of Abington was killed while fighting in Afghanistan.

He died two days before Christmas.

“Him being gone, his family is still taken care of, it just means so much to me -- all of this," Vasselian said.

Since losing her husband, Vasselian and her family have set up a memorial fund to help military families.

But Vasselian was also in need.

“We knew she was borrowing cars. Danny's car, which she had been using isn't good anymore and it's been sitting in her driveway,” Chris Lessard, with Mass. Fallen Heroes, said.

So an organization called Massachusetts Fallen Heroes stepped forward to help her out.

“It's great when you actually see that you can make a difference in someone's life,” said Lessard.

The group worked with MetLife insurance to donate an SUV which had been stolen and recovered.

Workers at Today's Collision in Malden volunteered to make it look brand new.

“This was easy, it needed a face lift, we gave it a little TLC,” owner Bobby Cobb said.

And it's obvious to see what it means to Vasselian.

"I'm so grateful and can't believe that someone would do this for me," she said.

Massachusetts Fallen Heroes has already donated cars to six local veterans.

This is the first time they have donated to a Gold Star family, but they say the need is just as great.