Honoring Veterans’ Service with Service of Their Own

The rain may have fallen this weekend, but as House of Heroes Co-Founder and U.S. Army veteran Bill May says, “In the Army, we laugh at the rain.”  

Upwards of 100 volunteers from the New Britain area and beyond did plenty of laughing and crying Saturday, as they descended upon Berlin, New Britain and Plainville to provide a day of service, thereby honoring three area veterans whose homes are in need of repair. It’s all part of House of Heroes Connecticut, an organization dedicated to honoring the service of veterans through service of their own.  

“It’s only one day, but we do our best to make a difference in a day,” says May, a 23-year Army vet and former Blackhawk pilot who founded the Connecticut chapter of the Georgia-based non-profit last year along with his partner, Steve Cavanaugh of Biltmore Construction, Hamden. “It’s the least we can do to honor these great Americans, who sacrificed a portion of their lives, be it in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq or elsewhere, so that we may enjoy the freedoms we have today as Americans. “It’s going to be a great Memorial Day.”  

Founded in January 2000, House of Heroes is a nonprofit organization serving the nation's military and public safety veterans (and their spouses) who are disabled, living on a fixed income, or facing other physical/financial challenges. Volunteers perform minor repairs and make improvements to the homes of veterans and their spouses—at no cost to the veteran—through the generosity of individuals, civic organizations, and corporations.

Home repair services have been provided to more than 600 veterans and their families since the group’s founding; the three projects this Saturday will make it 10 veterans’ homes that the Connecticut chapter has renovated in the last year.   This year’s New Britain-area project is being made possible by financial support from the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain Catalyst Fund, Hardware City Chapter 8 of the Disabled American Veterans, the Rotary Club of Southington and Mortgage Master of Southington.

House of Heroes Connecticut already completed two projects in Southington on April 27 as part of the effort.  

The day began around 7:30 a.m. at the homes of Jesse Ede of Berlin, a U.S. Army combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Mario Santos of New Britain, a U.S. Marine Corps and Vietnam-era veteran; and 86-year-old Juliet Catucci of Plainville, widow of U.S. Navy and World War II veteran Thomas Anthony Catucci, who passed away last year.  

At each job site, a break will be taken in the afternoon for a ceremony saluting each veteran, at which the national anthem was played by singer-songwriter and country music recording artist Tim Maggart and an American flag will be presented to the honored vet.

Among the special guests slated to take part at one or more of the ceremonies Saturday were U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, New Britain Mayor Timothy O’Brien, State Rep. Betty Boukus and Berlin Deputy Mayor Rachel Rochette.  

Jesse Ede was a Specialist/E4 and served two tours in Iraq. During his second tour in 2005, Jesse sustained combat injuries, yet went on to join the Army National Guard and served an additional two years following his separation from the Army in 2006. He has been awarded a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. Jesse and his wife Elissa have a son, Laydon, and are expecting a second child in November.  

Additional supporters of the New Britain-area project include American Legion Post 33, Plainville; American Legion Post 72, Southington; Biltmore Construction, Hamden; Central Pizza, Berlin; Christina’s Gourmet Cookies, Southington; Elks Lodge 1669, Southington; The Home Depot Foundation; The Home Depot, Berlin; The Home Depot, Southington; J. Timothy’s, Plainville; Knights of Columbus, Plainville; New England Muffin Factory, Southington; Paradise Pizza, New Britain; Town of Plainville, Veterans Council; Sixpence Pie Company, Southington; Smokin’ with Chris, Southington; Stop & Shop, Berlin; Susco Building Group, Southington; and the VFW Post 511 Bingo Committee, New Britain   House of Heroes Connecticut is hoping to make the New Britain-area project a model for future expansion, and is seeking corporate sponsorships to aid in this goal.

For more information, visit www.hohct.org.