Father/son veterans will get rehabbed home for Memorial Day

Prince Harry of Great Britain, visits Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, where veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried, on May 10, 2013 in Virginia. Credit: Getty Images

Memorial Day is a day to remember those military men and women who have died while serving the United States and its interests.

As the solemn occasion rapidly approaches, Sears Heroes at Home and Rebuilding Together reminds us it’s also important to take care of our living veterans.

On Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a group of 15 volunteers will be doing rehabilitation work on the North Philadelphia home shared by Curtis and Robert Reed — a father-son veteran duo.

The Sears Heroes at Home program has raised $17 million in just six years to rehab more than 1,300 veterans’ homes through partners such as Rebuilding Together.

Curtis is an Air Force veteran who served in Japan after World War II and worked at the Navy’s Willow Grove air base upon returning to the U.S. He has lived in his home in the Logan section for more than 40 years.

Robert is an Army vet.

The Sears/Rebuilding Together volunteer team will be installing flooring, painting, landscaping and more at the Reeds’ North Marvine Street home tomorrow.

On the strength of 1,200 to 1,500 volunteers each year, Rebuilding Together’s Philadelphia chapter works on roughly 70 homes annually. The organization often concentrates its efforts on the same street — as is the case with North Marvine Street, where nine homes have received facelifts — or in the same neighborhood.

For volunteer opportunities with Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, visit www.rebuildingphilly.org or call 215-965-0777.