3/21/06 - Hamilton vet gets visit from Gen. Clark in quest to make home livable

"A few volunteer hours and tools is all it takes to improve a disabled veteran's life—to give them the freedom they so richly deserve"

General Wesley Clark,
Project H.E.R.O. Campaign Chairperson.

Hamilton vet gets visit from Gen. Clark in quest to make home livable
March 21, 2006
By Lisa A. Bernard
Hamilton Journal News

HAMILTON — A local veteran was visited by retired General Wesley Clark Tuesday as the Hamilton man came one step closer to getting much-needed upgrades to his home.

The home of Shelby Bowling, a 69-year-old Cleveland Avenue resident, will be one of the first two pilot sites across the nation to be part of Project H.E.R.O. — Homes Eliminated of Restrictions and Obstacles.

The program is a joint venture among the International Code Council Foundation, Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Disabled American Veterans.

A Vietnam veteran, Bowling suffers from diabetes and is limited to the first floor of his two-story home. He uses a motorized wheelchair to move through his house.

Plans for Project H.E.R.O. include a $75,000 to $80,000 addition with a wheelchair-accessible entrance and a bedroom and bathroom on Bowling’s first floor.


Bowling was visited by Clark, a retired four-star general and former presidential candidate, Tuesday along with members of a local team working to redesign his house.

“I just want to thank all of you for doing so much for me,” said Bowling, just before tearing up. “I’m so overwhelmed, it’s hard to talk.”

Clark praised the ICC for the undertaking.

“These veterans who have served our country, some of them were injured in battle, ...some of them have disabilities that build up overtime, but it doesn’t matter what the case is, they all deserve our gratitude and our support,” Clark said. “We’ve got millions of veterans in America that have done tremendous things for their country, and they’ve gone onto lead other lives, ...but they put their country first when the country called and we can never forget that.”

ICC President Paul Myers said once the architectural drawings are complete and reviewed by local building officials, a campaign will be launched locally to raise the funds and manpower needed to remodel Bowling’s home.

“This is an activity that is going to include the broad base of the community,” Myers said. “Whether it is corporate, union — it really doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, there is a place for you to help in this program.”

For more information, or to make a contribution, call the ICC at (888) 422-7233, or call the Hamilton Construction Services division at 785-7360.