In celebration of Veterans Day, House of Heroes is working towards giving back to those who have served our country by offering home repairs to two local veterans. Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Eliza Krinski has the story. House of Heroes Connecticut has organized a team of volunteers who are dedicating their time to giving a fresh look to the houses of a couple of fortunate veterans. They are cleaning the gutters, painting the steps, and even renovating the back porch. In Wallingford, the community is expressing their love and support for these veterans who have bravely served our country.
No words can truly express our gratitude, but this Veterans Day, more than 30 dedicated volunteers from House of Heroes Connecticut are helping two veterans with their homes. In total, they have assisted 221 homes across Connecticut. One of the lucky veterans receiving assistance is 44-year-old Chris Cardia, a retired US Marine Corps veteran. His house is getting new window installations. Another veteran, 88-year-old James Kel, also had his house transformed.
Volunteers painted, mulched, and washed windows, doing everything they can to give back to these deserving veterans. For Kel, a deck is being restained, and a lot of yard work is being taken care of, tasks that an 88-year-old veteran can’t manage on his own. The overwhelming support and help received by these veterans is something they never expected.
Kel remarks, “I didn’t think it would be this awesome. You know, I mean, it’s crazy. If I knew, I’d have painted the whole inside of my house.” Reflecting on his service, Kel speaks with honor, emphasizing the 55 years he served, as his father had told him to either get a job or join the service.
He feels privileged to have had the opportunity to serve his country, acknowledging that many others were not as fortunate. A touching ceremony concluded the day, with James being presented with a flag box. This is a box that veterans should receive before passing away, allowing them to preserve their stories for future generations to learn about their service to our country. This gift from the community is a token of appreciation for James’s selfless service to Wallingford.
Reporting from Wallingford, Eliza Krinski for Channel 3 Eyewitness News..
