Barre church to offer vets place they can call home

Veterans and others enjoy a Veterans Day luncheon at Hedding United Methodist Church in Barre Sunday. The church announced the formation of a non-profit corporation, The Veterans' Place, which will provide area veterans of all wars with transitional housing and other services.Photo: Submitted photo

He noted that "we're not endorsing any wars," adding that the United Methodist bishops have opposed the Iraq war since it began. "Basically, our effort is provide what didn't happen for Vietnam veterans returning from the war, which is a place where people are honoring them. These are folks who have risked their lives for our common good. They didn't make the choices about how it was defined."

Barre church to offer vets place they can call home

November 12, 2007

By Mel Huff
Times Argus Staff
BARRE – As many as 60 people, including veterans from World War II through the Vietnam War, noncombatant veterans, veterans' widows and other family members were honored at a luncheon at Hedding United Methodist Church Sunday. Veteran Tom Quinlan prepared the pot roast, potatoes, carrots and trimmings, with help from others. Janet Steward of Plainfield contributed beef from her Scotch Highland herd. Their goal, said the Rev. Ralph W. Howe, Hedding's pastor, was "to let (veterans) know that ordinary folks are appreciative of them and their sacrifices."

After lunch the group learned of plans for a more lasting acknowledgement: Howe and Richard Schroeder, Hedding's Minister to Veterans, announced the formation of a non-profit corporation to provide veterans with transitional housing and other services. The Veterans' Place will not be an emergency shelter but a place that veterans can use as a home base while they get services and jobs and prepare to move into homes of their own.

"Recent studies indicate that one in four homeless people in this country are veterans," Howe explained. "Often the trauma of war has left veterans unable to readily re-enter civilian life. Having a facility and programs in place will help returning vets who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and other challenges of war get a new start on life."

Howe, Schroeder, and Jack McDermott of Moretown, a member of the Governor's Veterans Advisory Committee, are the movers behind The Veterans' Place. The group has filed for state nonprofit status and will soon file for federal nonprofit status.
click post title for the rest