THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) — A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps was honored before the start of the Yankees game on Tuesday night, and received a surprise of a lifetime.

Dr. Frank Valenzisi, a Patchogue native, enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1983 following the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, graduating first in his class. He served in Okinawa and Camp Lejeune until he suffered an injury, according to Paws of War.

When he returned to the U.S., Valenzisi became a veterinary technician in New York and earned his doctorate from Ohio State University.

After the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center, Valenzisi volunteered with the Suffolk County SPCA to provide emergency care to search and rescue dogs injured in the rubble of Ground Zero, Paws of War said.

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