Published On: Tue, Oct 16th, 2018

Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County VETERANS BUILD Honoring, Remembering and Serving “Hometown” Veterans Kick-Offs City of Boca Raton Veterans Week Salutes Friday, November 9

Boca Residents and Companies Invited to Volunteer and Sponsor to Transform Homes;
Hear Keynote Speaker Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Melvin Pollack, 
the POW Detained in Adjoining Cell to Senator John McCain

Area residents and businesses are invited to join Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County (HFHSPBC) and the City of Boca Raton to honor and serve resident military veterans in appreciation for their service Friday, November 9 in a kick-off to the City’s schedule of Veterans Day festivities. That is when more than 200 registered volunteers and teams from sponsoring companies will participate in the HFHSPBC’s annual VETERANS BUILD presented by Boca Raton-headquartered Vertical Bridge to transform 10 homes within the New Pines neighborhood.  Between two revitalization shifts, the volunteer appreciation lunch program will feature keynote speaker Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Melvin Pollack, the POW detained for years during the Vietnam War in an adjoining cell to Senator John McCain.

 

Welcome remarks by City of Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer, U.S. Color Guard ceremony and introductions of veteran homeowners will start the day at 8 a.m. prior to all volunteers joining crews from VETERANS BUILD Presenting Sponsor Vertical Bridge and other corporate teams, including Team Apple and Home Depot/Team Depot.  Lunch program with Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Melvin Pollack will begin at Noon.

 

The 2018 VETERANS BUILD is made possible by a generous gift from Vertical Bridge and grant funding from Home Depot Foundation.

 

A Rare Opportunity to Hear from Fellow POW Whose Cell Was Adjacent to Senator McCain

 

Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Melvin Pollack, who was shot down over Vietnam on his 78th combat mission in July 1967 and captured a few weeks before then Navy pilot John McCain, will share about their friendship during the Veteran Build lunch program.  Their relationship began in 1968 when they met “through the wall” that separated their adjoining cells as POWs.
Pollack currently serves on the Boca Raton Airport Authority, is board president of Boca-based Vets Helping Heroes that was started by another POW to provide service dogs to active duty military and retired vets.

 

Service Repaid in Twilight Years for Veteran John Brown and His Family

 

One of the Boca Raton veteran homeowners spanning generations is John Brown, a Philadelphia native who at the age of 19 in 1968 joined the military aboard the USS Independence where he served as an electrician during the Vietnam War.

 

Upon their relocation to South Florida, John and his wife, Iola noticed that there was a lot to be done for the Pearl City community in Boca Raton and were determined to give back. In 2001, Mr. Brown began to build houses with Habitat for Humanity SPBC and fighting “on the front line” for 17 years alongside those battling financial instability in Pearl City that is plagued with poverty and violence.  Serving as Vice-President of (DISC) Developing Interracial Social Change Organization he was able to build a bridge where different groups of people could unify and fight social barriers together.

Iola worked alongside John to build long-lasting homes and made it her mission to provide the children with educational tools by helping establish what is today known as: The Boys and Girls Club at Sand Pine Park, where the VETERANS BUILD welcomes the volunteers.

 

Volunteers Invited and Encouraged. No Construction Is Experience Is Necessary

 

Advance registration is required to participate. The volunteer builders will be working under the guidance of Habitat construction professionals. For safety reasons, volunteers to spruce up, paint, landscape,  must:

  • be age18 years or older
  • email volunteer@hfhboca.organd reference VETERANS BUILD
  • wear closed toe shoes, long pants; Veterans Build t-shirts will be provided
  • arrive by 8 a.m. at Sand Pine Park, 300 Newcastle Street, Boca Raton, FL 33487

 

HFHSPBC, headquartered at 181 S.E. Fifth Ave., Delray Beach, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that brings people together to build homes, community and hope in the cities of Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, Florida. The nonprofit depends upon
volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money, materials, services, and property to fulfill its mission.

 

To register for the HFHSPBC Veterans Build, visit volunteer@hfhboca.org. For corporate team sponsorships, contact Kari Oeltjen, HFHSPBC Vice President and Chief Development Officer at koeltjen@hfhboca.org or (561) 819-6070, ext. 214.

 

 

 

 

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