Commentary: Show Support for Our Veterans on Sept 11

Sept. 1, 2010 - PRLog -- By Winfield Ziegenfuss
Builders League of South Jersey President 2010

The wounds of devastation are still painfully fresh in our minds from the September 11 terrorist attacks on this country nine years ago. As each year passes how we chose to spend that day – the traditions we establish as families and communities - will strengthen our country and our resolve to rebuild and remember.

Patriot Day became a National Day of remembrance to observe the men and women who were tragically killed on US soil. Throughout the day, the American flag is to be flown at half-staff at individual American homes, at the White House, and on all U.S. government buildings and establishments, home and abroad. People are asked to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 A.M., the time of the first plane crash. While it is a discretionary day of remembrance, Americans are also advised to participate in some community service.

The Builders League of South Jersey continues to pay forward its thanks to our US military servicemen and women by supporting a non-profit organization that builds specially-adapted homes for severely physically disabled veterans at no cost to those veterans.  On Saturday September 11, the Builders League is hosting its second annual Run for Our Troops 5 kilometer Run & Walk (http://www.blsj.com/site/publisher/files/Release%20-%20Ru...) at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken.

Proceeds from the Builders League event will benefit Homes for Our Troops (www.homesforourtroops.org), a Taunton, Mass organization that has built more than 60 customized homes nationwide, including four in New Jersey. Another 40 homes are in various stages of planning and construction. The 3.1 mile event will begin shortly after 8:30 a.m. at the Cooper River Park Stadium to allow additional time for a moment of silence.

Many of our military servicemen and women are returning home from the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan with severe physical disabilities. While they dream of building a new life with new plans at home, the lack of accessibility in their surroundings is a roadblock to their future opportunities. These highly-customized homes allow veterans to recover, begin physical therapy, and start that new life, all while surrounded by family and friends.

The success of Homes for Our Troops is based on gathering hundreds of volunteers who commit their labor or materials toward the construction of each project. Some 93 cents of every dollar raised by Homes for Our Troops goes directly toward construction projects.
Still, construction costs to build these homes are elevated from your typical new home construction. The average new home built by Homes for Our Troops costs approximately $250,000 to build, not including all the donated time and materials. The costs are higher in New Jersey due to the cost of land and construction approvals.

There is no shortage of veterans in New Jersey who need an accessible home. Supporting Homes for Our Troops is one of the finest opportunities we have to honor our loved ones lost in the attacks on September 11 and say thanks to our military men and women.

A job goes home at night. For veterans who have made the extreme sacrifice it is a longer road home that we’d like to make a little smoother. Come walk or run with us.

Winfield Ziegenfuss of Daniel Gregory Inc of Mullica Hill is the Builders League of South Jersey President 2010. In 2008 members of the Builders League of South Jersey and Homes For Our Troops built a home in Florence for a returning Marine.

ABOUT THE BLSJ: The Builders League of South Jersey is a housing industry trade association of builders, developers, remodelers, suppliers, subcontractors, lenders, consulting professionals and others involved in providing residents with places to live and work in South Jersey. The Builders League is committed to promoting balanced solutions for solving New Jersey’s housing needs while planning for preservation, environmental protection and economic growth.

The Builders League which is comprised of firms from Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic counties, is an affiliate of the New Jersey Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders. For more information on the League visit www.blsj.com.

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The Builders League of South Jersey is a housing industry trade association of builders, developers, remodelers, suppliers, subcontractors, lenders, consulting professionals and others involved in the construction of new homes in southern New Jersey.