LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The Langley Honor and Fort Eustis Color Guard performed a posting of the colors in Williamsburg for a ground breaking ceremony of a disabled veteran's home July 31.
Army Lt. Col. (ret.) Earl Gentile, who is confined to a wheel chair due to multiple sclerosis, watched as a non-profit organization called the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing broke ground for his new home. This organization helps disabled veterans receive grants up to $63,780 from the Department of Veterans Affairs to build, purchase or remodel their homes.
"My wife has been the lead in most of this because I would have blown it off or hesitated where I would have waited too long," said Colonel Gentile. "Plus now, I'm not as mobile or have as much energy as I used to, so without their assistance I would have probably just given up. If anyone else is in a similar circumstance and they are looking to spend a better time at home, this is the group that can help."
"The principal goal of the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing is to assist all disabled veterans who have served our country with pride and honor but returned with a debilitating injury, such as the loss of the use of lower and upper extremities or suffer from other debilitating injuries," said John Lewandowski, DVCH president. "We can only imagine what they suffer each and every day. We help improve the quality of their lives by helping them build a home that meets the requirements associated with their disability."
Mr. Lewandowski is a disabled veteran with loss of lower extremities due to a service related injury. After more than two years of searching for a contractor to help with his situation and not being able to afford it, he turned to the Department of Veterans Affairs, which informed him of a special program for veterans with service connected injuries or illness. Because of all the troubles he went through in order to get a handicapped accessible home, he created this non-profit organization to help other veterans in his predicament.
"A lot of disabled veterans have challenges each and every day that almost preclude them from taking on a major project like building a house," said Dr. Richard Seely, DVCH director of associate members. "Another part is a number of veterans give up because for them to meet a bank, fill out all the papers and do all the other things to get the grant, it becomes too daunting."
The Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing works with certified home counselors, funding institutions, and construction companies who are approved by the Veterans Affairs Special Adapted Housing Section. The DVCH also has an administrative staff that takes care of all the paperwork that is involved.
For more information, contact John Lewandowski at 540-877-1252 or visit DVCH Website at www.dvchvets.org.