Volunteers decorate veterans’ homes
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| Firefighters and other volunteers work on a house in the Broyhill Crest neighborhood in Annandale. |
Six houses in Annandale and Falls Church were decorated
and fixed up for the holidays on Dec. 7, thanks to dozens of volunteers with
the Decorate-A-Vet program.
Decorate-A-Vet was founded 10 years ago by Jeff Jones, owner of Classic Stonescaping and Gardens.
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| Firefighters with Station 23, West Annandale, volunteer at a Decorate-A-Vet house. [FCFRD] |
Every December, Jones and a large crew of volunteers put up
Christmas decorations and do yardwork and light repairs at the homes of
veterans or military widows who can no longer handle the work themselves. The
volunteers tackle anywhere from three to six homes on a single day.
Christmas decorations and do yardwork and light repairs at the homes of
veterans or military widows who can no longer handle the work themselves. The
volunteers tackle anywhere from three to six homes on a single day.
Firefighters from the Jefferson Fire Station in Falls Church
and the Annandale Fire Station; Justice High School students, including the entire wrestling
team; about 15 employees from Evoke
Research and Consulting; and three members of Chapter 27-2 of the Combat
Veterans Motorcycle Association worked on a house on Howard Street in Annandale.
and the Annandale Fire Station; Justice High School students, including the entire wrestling
team; about 15 employees from Evoke
Research and Consulting; and three members of Chapter 27-2 of the Combat
Veterans Motorcycle Association worked on a house on Howard Street in Annandale.
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| Members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (from the left): Eric “Angry” Honneffer, Angela “Klutz” Myers, and John “Nutz” Myers. |
They put up wreaths and lights, pruned the ivy,
raked leaves, and put down mulch. Home
Depot donated the decorations. The homeowner, the widow of a Navy man, had
lived in the house for 50 years.
raked leaves, and put down mulch. Home
Depot donated the decorations. The homeowner, the widow of a Navy man, had
lived in the house for 50 years.
Another house fixed up on Dec. 7, in Annandale, was the home
of a highly decorated Army man who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
He met his future wife on VE Day on the Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris.
of a highly decorated Army man who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
He met his future wife on VE Day on the Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris.
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| Justice High School students Natalie Given (left) and Brooke Waldack. |
Other homeowners helped out by Decorate-A-Vet volunteers
include an Air Force lieutenant who served in Vietnam and later became a Foreign
Service officer and a Marine stationed in Vietnam, Okinawa, and the Panama Canal
Zone, among other places.
include an Air Force lieutenant who served in Vietnam and later became a Foreign
Service officer and a Marine stationed in Vietnam, Okinawa, and the Panama Canal
Zone, among other places.
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| This house, in Sleepy Hollow Woods, is ready for the holidays. |
Nominations for next year can be made on the Decorate-A-Vet
website.
website.
Just great! Thanks to Jeff Jones and ALL of the volunteers and sponsors.