Gulf War vet wins $1 million from lottery

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WANE) - A Gulf War veteran from Valparaiso won $1 million Friday from the Hoosier Lottery's Lucky Millionaire second-chance promotion.

Chris Ziegler, a father of four, was one of five randomly selected finalists eligible to win the $1 million prize.

Ziegler was also a finalist in the previous Lucky Millionaire drawing in September 2012. He kept entering his non-winning tickets into the mylottery second-chance drawing . In January, one of his entries was drawn, giving him  a place in Friday's $1 million drawing.

"Everything happens for a reason," said Chris's wife Amy. "By not winning the first time, it feels that much more surreal."

Ziegler currently works as an EMT on an ambulance. He has four children, ages two to 15.

"Right now, I'm just trying to comprehend it. It feels amazing to know that we'll have that much money to take care of things, that the kids will be taken care of," Ziegler said.

Amy, an emergency room RN, says the couple will still work full-time.

The couple said they plan to meet with a financial advisor before they purchase a house and pay off cars.

Players may continue to enter their non-winning Lucky Millionaire tickets for a chance to be a finalist in the third and final mylottery Lucky Millionaire second-chance drawing. A date for that drawing has not yet been announced.