Veterans Day Surprise: A New Roof for Ohio Veteran

The community came together to thank this Veteran for his service by replacing the roof on the house he built himself in 1953

An 87-year-old U.S. Army veteran, Wayne McGee, got a new roof on Veterans Day thanks to Arnold’s Home Improvement, Owens Corning, Top Notch Gutters and ABC Supply. McGee was drafted in 1950 and served in occupied Germany as a combat engineer and a demolition expert during the Korean War.

Jason Arnold of Arnold’s Home Improvement told 13 ABC Action News that the roof was leaking and rotten in some places. “Three different roofs have been put on the house through the years,” explained Arnold. “We are tearing it down to the roof deck and inspecting it. We are replacing the wood as needed. There will also be ice guards installed tomorrow, which will prevent the ice from damming along the bottom edge. He will get the new gutters thanks to donations from Top Notch Gutters and ABC Supply.”

The products were donated by Owens Corning through the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project, which provides free roofs to military families around the United States. This project is just one of more than a dozen roofs donated this year. Owens Corning President Brian Chambers said "We know Wayne and his family will be able to live in this home and be protected by a great roof for a long, long time and that makes us happy. It's a special day for all of us, it truly makes the entire Owens Corning family proud."

The labor was donated by Arnold's Home Improvement, "I was not as fortunate as most kids growing up, so any time I can help the community, I enjoy doing it." Arnold was also inspired to continue helping vets as well, "Every year we are going to do a project like this for free on Veterans Day in Wayne's name. So this is the start of something bigger than just today, it will go on for years to come."