Pensacola News Journal, 7:02 p.m. CST January 29, 2015, by: Marketta Davis, pnj.com
"Team Depot brings vet home back to Milton"
http://www.pnj.com/story/news/military/2015/01/29/team-depot-brings-vet-...
"In late April 2014, heavy rains swept away and destroyed Pensacola area homes and businesses within a 24-hour period.
Families and communities were devastated by the damage, some losing everything they owned — one such place being American Legion Post 78 in Milton.
But soon, veterans will be able to meet, greet, volunteer and commune in their post home thanks to volunteers from Home Depot, who hosted a project opening ceremony event Thursday at the facility.
"I went to Home Depot, and I said, 'We've run out of money, our place has been flooded, we've spent every dime we have, we've dipped into savings, we've done everything we can do, and we need help,'" said Roxie Platt, American Legion Post 78 historian.
After going through the proper channels — from writing a letter to requesting a grant and finally getting it approved — Team Depot has started renovations on the veteran recreational facility.
"We've had an amazing experience with this," Platt said. "It took a long time to get here, but it's certainly going to be an amazing recovery for us."
Post 78 property was submerged in water last April, and the building itself was under a foot of water. A few days after the waters receded, there was black mold three feet up the walls.
The walls — along with insulation, the cabinets, appliances and even precious photo books — were ruined.
While items like photo books can't be replaced, Team Depot was able to replace some vital items.
Volunteers are remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms, installing tile throughout the entire facility, painting the interior, replacing the ceilings, updating the outdoor pavilion, doing some landscaping, building a new outdoor fire pit behind the building and, of course, restoring the American Legion Post 78 sign.
The fire pit was a real treat to add to the Post, Klemens said.
"The Legion here works with so many disabled veterans, and they go there just to enjoy it and camp out," said Jerry Klemens, store manager for the Pace Home Depot and the district Team Depot captain.
Klemens said the renovation came to about $15,000 for materials. There also are 81 Team Depot volunteers working together to get the building up and running.
"It's a feel-good thing for all of us," Klemens said.
Showing his support for Post 78 veterans, Milton Mayor Wesley Meiss said it was time for society to put veterans first, and he was glad to be part of the volunteer effort in rebuilding the Post.
"This is a place that I've been to a few times, and it was in dire straits," Meiss said. "It really needed some work. I'm glad to see an organization like Home Depot give back."
"What's impressive to me is that there's just about 100 people out here, and they're all volunteering on their day off to come here. ... They have their military at heart, and they want to help out. This is really what it's all about, giving back. The city of Milton is proud of our veterans, and we value our veterans."
Platt said veterans in attendance at the project opening ceremony were in tears and extremely emotional seeing all the volunteers and support they had in rebuilding their Post.
"It's like having a home, then it's gone," she said. "And now we're getting our home back."
The American Legion Post 78 grand re-opening ceremony event will be Feb. 28 at the Post.
ONLINE: For more photos and a video with the people who made the event possible, pnj.com."
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Photo credit: Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com
Volunteers from area Home Depots gather for a group photo with Congressman Jeff Miller and Milton Mayor Wesley Meiss on Thursday while working to restore American Legion Post 78 in Milton on Thursday after severe flood damage from April's flood.
