NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WJAR) — A Veteran Army nurse from Narragansett is getting a new roof over her head, literally.
Dozens of volunteers who heard she needed some home repairs stepped up to help her.
“Some of these guys have brand new babies at home, some of them came hundreds of miles to help out this weekend,” said Ken Gayles, the Project Manager for Heroes’ Horizons.
Heroes’ Horizons is a non-profit organization based out of Rhode Island that helps Veterans.
“My son was a Veteran, he came home he was not well and we lost him eventually,” said Gayles. “I started this because of him, if a Veteran needing heating oil, electricity bill paid, had nothing in the refrigerator, we like to provide it for them that day if possible.”
Gayles said last year at the Wakefield Veteran’s Day parade, someone heard about his organization and eventually put a request in for 92-year-old Vennera Haslam’s roof to be fixed.
According to Haslam’s family, she served as an Army nurse in the Korean War.
“She took care of the most severely injured soldiers whether physically or mentally,” said her grandson-in-law Antonio Salvatore. “She gets really emotional whenever she talks about it.”
Her husband and son are both navy Veterans.
Haslam's husband passed away several years ago, and she’s lived alone ever since, but her family visits frequently.
“She’s 92 years old she just can’t go get a new roof,” said Gayles.
About a dozen volunteers spent their Saturday tearing up Haslam’s old roof to put on a new one. They also trimmed her trees and cleaned up her yard.
“We were out here this morning, it was nine degrees out, there was no frost on the roof so everyone went straight up and right to work,” said Gayles.
“They’re doing a good job, I ought to be thankful for them,” said Haslam, who is hard of hearing. “That’s the way it is, Veterans take care of Veterans.”
Organizers are hoping to have the project wrapped up by Tuesday.
“I want to thank them, they’re doing a great job. It’s not every day someone comes over and helps a little old lady,” said Haslam.
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