Navy Veteran is Recipient of New Roof

By Kate Edwards, RCS Writer.

He sailed around the world, battling the waters of the Arctic Circle and serving his country in the Korean War.

Charlie Hall’s North Carolina home of 60 years is once again a safe place to live thanks to the donation of a new roof made possible by Statesville-based Purple Heart Homes, the Morganton News Herald reported. Hall, an 86-year-old U.S. Navy Veteran, received the new roof through the Owens Corning National Roof Deployment Project.

Purple Heart Homes, a nonprofit providing home repairs to aging and disabled veterans, worked with K&L Dunrite Roofing and Restoration, a platinum preferred Owens Corning contractor, to give the home a new roof. K&L Dunrite donated the time and labor while Owens Corning donated the materials.

Charlie, whose home had a leaking roof, applied for the program last summer. After being met with several COVID-19 delays, the project was completed last month. He told the Morganton News Herald that he was thankful for the persistence of Purple Heart Homes project manager Scott Stevenson, explaining how “everything seems to be falling into place.”

“He’s been talking about how he’s happy we’re here and supporting what he needs,” Stevenson told the Herald. “Charlie is a very humble guy.”

For K&L Dunrite, Charlie’s home is their third project with Purple Heart Homes. “We’re more about bringing life back to the community and helping those in need,” said Fayth Stimpson, an executive assistant at K&L Dunrite. “It means a lot, because we try to do a lot with the company and give back to those who help us stay in business,” Stimpson told the Herald.

“To me, it’s just like they’re trying to take care of me like if I was related,” Charlie said, expressing his gratitude and explaining how he has always felt taken care of since being out of the Navy. “These people here – I think they’ve done a beautiful job…I appreciate them telling me how much they appreciate me being in the service and all.”

Enlisting at the age of 17, Charlie served as a fireman first class in the Navy from 1951-1955. He worked in the boiler room of a Gearing-class destroyer, the U.S.S. Brownson. Charlie sailed around the world, including an operation in the Arctic Circle and voyages to France, Italy, Sweden, Morocco, Gibraltar, Cuba, Australia, the Black Sea and the Panama and Suez Canals. “It was something to get to see all that,” Charlie told the Herald.

After leaving the Navy, Charlie worked in a Boston blacksmith shop before hitting the road as a truck driver and eventually retiring to his longtime home, where he enjoys spending time with his neighbors. “It’s been a good neighborhood,” Charlie said. “I’ve really enjoyed my life.”

Owens Corning has donated more than 200 roofs to military veterans across the United States since launching the program in 2016.

Do you know of someone in the industry who is “doing good deeds” in their community? Help us catch them at it. Send news and information to info@rooferscoffeeshop.com.

Photo credit: Justin Eppley, The News Herald.