Church members fix up the Annandale house of Navy Yard shooting victim
 |
| A worker from Thompson Creek puts new windows on the Bodrog house. |
Navy Yard shooting victim Martin Bodrog was a tireless
volunteer who spent his spare time helping others. But he never got around to
completing the long list of repair jobs for his own house in Annandale.
volunteer who spent his spare time helping others. But he never got around to
completing the long list of repair jobs for his own house in Annandale.
So a cadre of friends and people from the family’s church, Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, are putting in new windows and siding, repairing the
foundation, painting, and totally fixing up the Bodrog family’s home on Paul
Revere Court in the Oak Hill community.
foundation, painting, and totally fixing up the Bodrog family’s home on Paul
Revere Court in the Oak Hill community.
Bodrog, a retired Naval officer, had been working in his
office at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., as a procurement official Sept. 16,
2013, when a mentally unbalanced contractor, Aaron Alexis, went on a shooting
rampage, killing 12 people.
office at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., as a procurement official Sept. 16,
2013, when a mentally unbalanced contractor, Aaron Alexis, went on a shooting
rampage, killing 12 people.
“The family is doing as well as could be expected. Melanie
[Bodrog’s widow] is an incredibly strong women,” said John Rutherford, a next-door neighbor who also attends Immanuel Bible Church and is coordinating the
home renovation project. The Bodrogs have three daughters, two of them in high
school and one in her early 20s.
[Bodrog’s widow] is an incredibly strong women,” said John Rutherford, a next-door neighbor who also attends Immanuel Bible Church and is coordinating the
home renovation project. The Bodrogs have three daughters, two of them in high
school and one in her early 20s.
“Marty was a great guy,” says Rutherford. He taught 3-year-olds at Immanuel’s
Sunday school, sold raffle tickets at Annandale High School football games, and
served on the board of Young Life, a Christian youth organization.
“We’re trying to help the family as much as possible to take
the worry of home maintenance off them, so they can focus on the healing
process,” Rutherford says.
the worry of home maintenance off them, so they can focus on the healing
process,” Rutherford says.
Thompson Creek is contributing nearly $30,000 to the effort,
including 10 new windows, 100 feet of gutters, and new siding, says Katie
Sushko, public relations coordinator for the company. Rich Trimber, an executive at Thompson Creek, is a neighbor of the Bodrog’s.
including 10 new windows, 100 feet of gutters, and new siding, says Katie
Sushko, public relations coordinator for the company. Rich Trimber, an executive at Thompson Creek, is a neighbor of the Bodrog’s.
Rutherford said Home Depot sent over 13 people to repair
cracks in the foundation and help with some of the interior work. Kevin Kettle,
a member of the church who is president of Laureate Homes, worked on excavating
the foundation. Dan Wakefield of Hann & Hann Construction Services brought
skilled workers to help with the painting and some of the more difficult
repairs, and the Behr Paint Co. contributed paint.
cracks in the foundation and help with some of the interior work. Kevin Kettle,
a member of the church who is president of Laureate Homes, worked on excavating
the foundation. Dan Wakefield of Hann & Hann Construction Services brought
skilled workers to help with the painting and some of the more difficult
repairs, and the Behr Paint Co. contributed paint.
“It’s a total redo of the house,” said Sushko. Among the new
items: drywall in the basement, a garage door, entry doors, trim work, and carpeting.
Volunteers are helping with yard work, too.
items: drywall in the basement, a garage door, entry doors, trim work, and carpeting.
Volunteers are helping with yard work, too.
“It’s been a really great effort among our church, community,
and corporate sponsors,” Rutherford said. So many people volunteered their time
and expertise, it’s hard to put a monetary figure on all of it.
and corporate sponsors,” Rutherford said. So many people volunteered their time
and expertise, it’s hard to put a monetary figure on all of it.
It's wonderful to see the community (both their church and area companies) coming together to help families who need it. Home repairs and maintenance can just weigh on you emotionally – not to mention the costs – so having these projects completed will hopefully lift a burden and help with their healing.
God bless.