{"id":505773,"date":"2026-10-23T21:24:35","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T21:24:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/505773\/"},"modified":"2026-10-23T21:24:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T21:24:35","slug":"local-veteran-receives-helpful-surprise-a-new-car-in-long-beach-press-telegram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/505773\/","title":{"rendered":"Local veteran receives \u2018helpful\u2019 surprise \u2013 a new car \u2013 in Long Beach \u2013 Press Telegram"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friday morning started as normal for retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Victor Montiel, as he and his family visited his son\u2019s local coffee shop in Long Beach. But later, he received a \u201chelpful\u201d surprise \u2014 one that left him speechless.<\/p>\n

Montiel was handed the keys to his new, payment-free 2026 Honda CR-V on Friday, Oct. 23. The South El Monte resident was honored for his military service and continued commitment to helping others by being surprised with the new car by SoCal Helpful Honda Dealers and Wells Fargo, in collaboration with the Military Warriors Support Foundation\u2019s Transportation4Heroes program.<\/p>\n

\"From<\/p>\n

From left, Honda Spokesperson Tami Horetski hands Victor Montiel keys to a new 2026 Honda CR-V in Long Beach on Friday, October 23, 2026. The SoCal Helpful Honda Dealers and Wells Fargo through the Military Warriors Support Foundation\u2019s Transportation4Heroes program gifted the car to retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Victor Montiel, a Purple Heart recipient and longtime community volunteer. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

Victor Montiel thanks everyone after receiving a payment-free 2026 Honda CR-V in Long Beach on Friday, October 23, 2026. The SoCal Helpful Honda Dealers and Wells Fargo through the Military Warriors Support Foundation\u2019s Transportation4Heroes program gifted the car to retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Victor Montiel, a Purple Heart recipient and longtime community volunteer. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

Victor Montiel receives a payment-free 2026 Honda CR-V at the SALA Coffee and Wine Bar in Long Beach on Friday, October 23, 2026. The SoCal Helpful Honda Dealers and Wells Fargo through the Military Warriors Support Foundation\u2019s Transportation4Heroes program gifted the car to retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Victor Montiel, a Purple Heart recipient and longtime community volunteer. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

Victor Montiel receives a payment-free 2026 Honda CR-V at the SALA Coffee and Wine Bar in Long Beach on Friday, October 23, 2026. The SoCal Helpful Honda Dealers and Wells Fargo through the Military Warriors Support Foundation\u2019s Transportation4Heroes program gifted the car to retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Victor Montiel, a Purple Heart recipient and longtime community volunteer. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"From<\/p>\n

From left, Honda Spokesperson Tami Horetski shows Victor Montiel around his new 2026 Honda CR-V in Long Beach on Friday, October 23, 2026. The SoCal Helpful Honda Dealers and Wells Fargo through the Military Warriors Support Foundation\u2019s Transportation4Heroes program gifted the car to retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Victor Montiel, a Purple Heart recipient and longtime community volunteer. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"From<\/p>\n

From right, Honda Spokesperson Tami Horetski shows Victor Montiel around his new 2026 Honda CR-V in Long Beach on Friday, October 23, 2026. The SoCal Helpful Honda Dealers and Wells Fargo through the Military Warriors Support Foundation\u2019s Transportation4Heroes program gifted the car to retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Victor Montiel, a Purple Heart recipient and longtime community volunteer. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

Victor Montiel poses for a photograph with (from left) his mother Herlinda Montiel, his son Victor Montiel Jr. and his cousin Mario Martinez after receiving a new 2026 Honda CR-V in Long Beach on Friday, October 23, 2026. The SoCal Helpful Honda Dealers and Wells Fargo through the Military Warriors Support Foundation\u2019s Transportation4Heroes program gifted the car to retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Victor Montiel, a Purple Heart recipient and longtime community volunteer. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

Victor Montiel receives a payment-free 2026 Honda CR-V at the SALA Coffee and Wine Bar in Long Beach on Friday, October 23, 2026. The SoCal Helpful Honda Dealers and Wells Fargo through the Military Warriors Support Foundation\u2019s Transportation4Heroes program gifted the car to retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Victor Montiel, a Purple Heart recipient and longtime community volunteer. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 8<\/p>\n

From left, Honda Spokesperson Tami Horetski hands Victor Montiel keys to a new 2026 Honda CR-V in Long Beach on Friday, October 23, 2026. The SoCal Helpful Honda Dealers and Wells Fargo through the Military Warriors Support Foundation\u2019s Transportation4Heroes program gifted the car to retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Victor Montiel, a Purple Heart recipient and longtime community volunteer. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

The three institutions set up the car in the parking lot behind SALA Coffee and Wine Bar, 3853 Atlantic Ave., in Long Beach, and were joined by representatives from Mayor Rex Richardson\u2019s and Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal\u2019s offices to surprise Montiel.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs veterans, we normally give and we always like to see that feeling of when someone else is helped, and then to be now on the other side of it \u2013 I can see how people get overwhelmed,\u201d Montiel said in an interview, \u201cand I think that\u2019s the best feeling when you give something without expecting anything in return. I\u2019m kind of speechless.\u201d<\/p>\n

Montiel joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1994 and served 10 years, including overseas in Iraq. During his deployment, he was wounded in combat and was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and other military honors for his service.<\/p>\n

The veteran\u2019s dedication to service extends beyond his military career, organizers said. He supports fellow veterans as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Color Guard and his city\u2019s Patriotic Commission, mentors at-risk youth through the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, and coaches local sports teams. A devoted father of four, Montiel is also raising his family while caring for his mother, who lives with him, organizers said.<\/p>\n

Through the Military Warriors Support Foundation \u2013 a nonprofit providing programs that facilitate a smooth and successful transition for combat-wounded military heroes, Gold Star spouses and their families \u2013 in collaboration with the SoCal Honda Dealers Association and Wells Fargo, Montiel will now have reliable transportation to help meet his family\u2019s daily needs. The gift also recognizes his enduring commitment to service, family and community, organizers said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the bank of doing, Wells Fargo is committed to supporting the financial and transportation needs of military service members, veterans and their families,\u201d said Mike Meganck, executive director of the West Market at Wells Fargo. \u201cWe are proud to sponsor the donation of a new vehicle to Military Warriors Support Foundation\u2019s Transportation4Heroes program \u2013 a program dedicated to supporting military service members as they transition back to civilian life and providing brand-new, payment-free vehicles to combat wounded veterans and Gold Star families.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Friday morning started as normal for retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Victor Montiel, as he and his family…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":505774,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[7,179,131,133,132,137,100],"class_list":["post-505773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-long-beach","tag-california","tag-community","tag-long-beach","tag-long-beach-headlines","tag-long-beach-news","tag-los-angeles-county","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/505773","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=505773"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/505773\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/505774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=505773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=505773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=505773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}