BRAINTREE – Several volunteers spent their Saturday knocking on veterans’ doors in Braintree to thank them for their service and inform them of new benefits.
From house to house for heroes
House to House for Heroes volunteers were able to visit several hundred veterans with information packets about the new benefits of the HERO Act.
“We hope to visit every city in Norfolk County over the next two years,” said Isabella Erti.
The idea came from the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, which initiated the project in Quincy last spring.
“This is an opportunity to engage our veterans to hear their stories, but also give them the appreciation they deserve,” said Norfolk Sheriff Patrick McDermott.
The volunteers traveled across the city in hopes of making a difference for veterans ahead of Veterans Day on Monday. But the veterans also made a difference in the lives of volunteers by telling them stories from their lives.
“Some places were tough, but you know what you can do. No, I loved every minute of it,” said Air Force veteran George Campbell.
“My father came home and told my mother, when she was pregnant with her first child, that he had signed up to serve in World War II. She wasn’t happy. They gave him six weeks until the baby was born and then he left. And he never regretted it,” said Army daughter Paula Nisula.
Proud to serve their country
That was the message for many of the volunteers who expected to hear about the struggles of being a veteran, but instead heard stories of the pride they had in serving their country.
“One of the coolest things we had today was someone told us that they had served on the very first nuclear submarine and so he was very happy about that. Most of them expressed how honored they were to serve and how they would do it again,” said volunteer Deidre Keough.
If you are a veteran and would like a knock on your door, please contact the nearest veterans services office.
Ken MacLeod
