A Stratford Navy veteran received free home repairs Monday, thanks to a Hamden based veterans service organization.
House of Heroes Connecticut and volunteers from Project Partners Turner Construction and DiGiorgi Roofing & Siding completed repairs at the home of Roy Thompson. The nonprofit honors military and public safety veterans and or their surviving spouses in need by providing free home repairs, focusing on safety and accessibility.
The Stratford native and Navy Seabee was stationed at Guantanamo Bay during The Cuban Missile Crisis. His battalion built bunkers on the military base's border with Cuba for Marines to use as a way to defend themselves against what they believed was going to an invasion of nearly 3,000 troops.
Volunteers fixed Thompson's patio area and back steps, along with his fence, and rebuilt a retaining wall. Thompson's gutters were also completely replaced.
Thompson says he is incredibly grateful.
"It's unbelievable wonderful. I don't feel that I deserve it, but they did and here they are. I couldn't have done any of this physical work myself. I had a heart attack that I should have died from and I had stage four cancer, so I have my limited things," he says.