TIPTON CO., Tenn. — An organization for veterans is taking on its biggest project yet for one of its oldest members: a construction project with a price tag upwards of $30,000.
Tipton County resident John Abbott is a 101-year-old World War II Merchant Marine and post-war U.S. Army veteran. Abbott’s home was damaged this past winter during a storm to the point where the roof was caving in and the house was in serious need of repair.
Jason Franklin with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association and his team jumped into action.
“Mr. Abbott is the type of man you can sit down and talk to for hours and listen to his stories and the things that he’s seen and the things that he’s done throughout his lifetime,” Franklin said. “We got word that he was having some leaking issues so we came over to investigate and see how we can help. It’s pretty extensive damage, right? So we made some calls.”
Those calls included calls to roofing companies including Admiral Custom Roofing.
“He wanted a price on a roof for a veteran,” owner Roger McMullen said. “I said, ‘No, I’m not gonna give you no price. I’m gonna get with some companies.’”
A total of 43 companies chipped in, and there were several donations from the community.
“My granddaddy was a vet too in WWII, and I heard his stories growing up and for what they went through for us, this ain’t nothing,” McMullen said. “Mr. Abbott was there for our country when we needed him, so it’s our duty to be there for him in his time of need.”
Franklin says he’s “about as grateful as grateful could be” for the help of his community.
You can visit the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association’s website to donate to this project or to help another veteran in need.