The Martinez children meet Santa Claus on Dec. 17, 2016. The nonprofit Building Homes for Heroes donated a mortgage-free house and provided Christmas decorations for the family, along with gifts from Santa and a visit to Disneyworld. Air Force Lt. Col. Kato Martinez's wife Gail was killed in a suicide bombing in the Brussels Airport on March 22, 2016. Martinez was wounded along with all four children, who sustained burns, fractures and other injuries. (Alex Horton/Stars and Stripes)
The Martinez children meet Santa Claus on Dec. 17, 2016. The nonprofit Building Homes for Heroes donated a mortgage-free house and provided Christmas decorations for the family, along with gifts from Santa and a visit to Disneyworld. Air Force Lt. Col. Kato Martinez's wife Gail was killed in a suicide bombing in the Brussels Airport on March 22, 2016. Martinez was wounded along with all four children, who sustained burns, fractures and other injuries. (Alex Horton/Stars and Stripes)
The Martinez children meet Santa Claus on Dec. 17, 2016. (Alex Horton/Stars and Stripes)
San Antonio first-responders bring gifts for the children of Air Force Lt. Col. Kato Martinez, top center. (Alex Horton/Stars and Stripes)
The Martinez children with Santa Claus on Dec. 17, 2016. The nonprofit Buildings Homes for Heroes donated a mortgage-free house and provided Christmas decorations for the family, along with gifts from Santa and a visit to Disneyworld. (Alex Horton/Stars and Stripes)
Air Force Lt. Col. Kato Martinez hugs Building Homes for Heroes CEO and founder Andy Pujol on Dec. 17, 2016. The nonprofit donated a mortgage-free house and provided Christmas decorations for the family, along with gifts from Santa and a visit to Disneyworld. (Alex Horton/Stars and Stripes)
SAN ANTONIO — Air Force Lt. Col. Melchizedek “Kato” Martinez was just back from Afghanistan when a suicide bomber hit close to home.
Martinez and his family were headed to Disney World in Florida from the Brussels Airport on March 22, when a bomb ripped through the baggage area.
His wife, Gail, was killed in the blast. Martinez and his four children suffered serious injuries.
This summer, the nonprofit Building Homes for Heroes donated a mortgage-free house to the Martinez family in San Antonio. The group unveiled Christmas decorations for the family on Saturday, along with gifts and the trip to Disney World they didn't make in March.
San Antonio police and firefighters, along with volunteers and Santa Claus, visited with the family at the unveiling.
Horton.Alex@stripes.com Twitter: @AlexHortonTX
