Construction has begun on a new house for a Springdale soldier whose family was devastated by a brush fire last summer. Master Sergeant Elmo Mclean of Springdale was deployed in Iraq last summer. Like many other soldiers, he left behind his family: his wife, three children and elderly mother-in-law. On the morning of August 4, 2004, the family’s home was engulfed by a rapidly moving brush fire. The home was destroyed and tragically, Mrs. Mclean’s mother perished in the fire. Compounding the tragedy, the family had neither homeowner’s insurance nor life insurance for Mrs. Mclean’s mother.
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #3057 in Westport, Wash., learned of the family’s situation and was determined to help. Last month, the Mclean family was presented with a check of $3600, a large portion of which came from the VFW Foundation’s Unmet Needs program, to help them rebuild their home.
With donations of tools from Vermont American Power Tool Accessories, lumber from Lumbermen’s, ladders from Werner Ladder, and other donations, the family will have a home again by late spring of 2005 just as Sgt. McLean leaves for a second tour of duty in Iraq. “The donations of time, talent and materials from the Unmet Needs Program are really making a difference,” says Sgt. Mclean. “I sure appreciate it!”