Soldiers, families volunteer for three House of Heroes projects
As she entered her home, Izola Bell stopped to admire the fresh coat of green paint on the house and the new door through which she was walking.
"This is wonderful. The house needed so much done," said the 93-year-old Columbus woman as she sat down inside.
Working at the House of Heroes project Thursday on King Street was a group of about 40 people representing the 14th Combat Support Hospital at Fort Benning.
House of Heroes is a nonprofit organization in which volunteers from different businesses and organizations perform minor repairs and make improvements to the homes of veterans and their spouses, who are disabled or living on a fixed income, at no cost to the homeowners.
Bell is the widow of SP4 Theodore Bell, a Silver Star recipient, who served in World War II and the Korean War.
Bell was honored in a ceremony and presented an American flag that has flown over the Capitol of the United States.
Among the workers was a married couple, both Army captains, Grant and Brandy
Gainsley.
Grant Gainsley just returned this week from five months in Iraq.
"Giving back to one of our own is really an honor," she said.
She said members of the team had visited Bell's home at an earlier date to see what was needed.
Her husband said he was proud to participate and that the people being helped were all part of the Army family.
Besides the project at Bell's home, two others were also being done Thursday by those from the 14th Combat Support Hospital.
The projects were funded by Headquarter Nissan. Burger King provided food for the workers.
One of the other homes also being worked on Thursday was that of Fannie Davis on Yuchi Avenue, the widow of Sgt. Louis Davis, who served in World War II and Korean War.
Another was the Brooks Road home of Marie Lewis, the widow of Tec5 Lee Lewis who served with the Army in Asia.
On Friday, another Army team will work on the Bloomfield Drive home of Loretta Springer, the widow of SSG James Springer.
This story was originally published September 6, 2015 at 9:47 PM with the headline "Soldiers, families volunteer for three House of Heroes projects ."