Community Corner

Canton Veteran to Receive Special 'Welcome Home'

Purple Heart Homes has completed renovations for Joe Recupero

Submitted Release 

Purple Heart Homes will hold a "Welcome Home" Ceremony for Vietnam Veteran Joe Recupero Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013 at 11 a.m. at 7 Forest Lane in Canton.

Canton residents, friends and neighbors in surrounding communities are invited to join  the Welcome Home Ceremony to shower Joe with love and gifts. This will be a joyous occasion to celebrate Joe's 63rd Birthday, the completion of the renovations and the spirit of the holiday season.

Renovations on the home located at 7 Forest Lane began Friday October 4 led by General Contractor Steve Thomas working with Sap Works Construction in Manchester to make Joe's home safe and barrier free so he can age in place without have to consider costly alternatives.

A 300 square foot addition was added to Joe's home that includes a handicap accessible bathroom with a roll in shower, Jacuzzi tub for therapy, energy upgrades that includes new insulation and windows,  new roof, an updated kitchen, wider doorways, ramp out the front door and moved his driveway for easier wheel chair access.

Recently, members of the town of Canton Volunteer Fire and EMS Department helped at the home (see attached pictures).

"We also know what it's like to leave our families and to put ourselves in harm's way in service to our community," Fire Chief Rich Hutchings said. "Joe,and other vets like him, placed himself in harm's way to protect our freedoms. The least we could do is give him afew hours of our time."

Joe Recupero suffers from severe Parkinson's as a result of exposure to Agent Orange, a defoliant used by the U.S. Military during the Vietnam War from 1961-1971. 

The renovations to the home, made possible by a grant to Purple Heart Homes from the Home Depot Foundation  to be used for older Service Connected Disabled veterans that own their own home as well as additional contributions from individuals, donations of materials and labor from professional trades men from the area.

For more on the project, see the following videos: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=575ssR2h1xE&feature=share&list=UULAcNrfZd3Nstptyuf54OVg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8fMWXoZxmo&feature=share



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