Local Marines with Blue Ridge Detachment 1438 of the Marine Corps League recently completed a wheelchair ramp for a retired Army veteran in the community.
“We are Marines and we take care of our own, and it is only right that we take care of our veteran brothers,” Commandant Jim Brumbelow said.
The recipient of the ramp, who preferred to remain unnamed, is a 25-year veteran, and an associate member of the league. According to member Dale Greene, they are “very active in league activities including the league’s annual Toys for Tots campaign.”
The ramp is completely ADA compliant, and all materials were donated by Lowe’s in Murphy, North Carolina. League members Brumbelow, Greene, Charlie Mills, Mike Nunnally and Thom Potito donated their time and labor to complete the project.
“With the very generous support of Lowe’s in Murphy, the ramp was completed in three work days,” Greene said.
Potito, a retired Marine First Sergeant and co-leader of the construction effort, said, “We knew we wanted to construct the ramp and when the good folks at Lowe’s became aware of our need for materials and offered to help us, we were very excited.”
Brumbelow, who also led the construction, added, “We really could not use all the League members who volunteered due to the tight working conditions, but it was a total League effort.”
The detachment meets the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at Fannin County Family Connection’s Community Room, located at Industrial Park Drive. Social distancing guidelines and all other safety protocols will be observed.