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The recipients of the homes are Larry Cochran and
Steve Baker.
Cochran is not originally from the area and has been
traveling a great deal the last few years. However, he has family in
the Peoria area and when he heard about the CIVC Tiny home project,
decided to give it a go, and apply for one of the two being built in
Atlanta.
Baker is from Lincoln and is known not only as a
local veteran but for Baker Tree Service, which today is under the
management of his son, also named Steve.
The program was led by Marsha Fernandes who is a
long-standing board member of the CIVC. She began by introducing the
CIVC board members who were present for the evening.
Those members included Annie Coers, Patti Schonauer,
Lisa Ramlow, Casey Cook and Tracy Welch. Fernandes added that two
board members were unable to attend the services.
She also introduced Julie King who is now the new
director at CIVC. King is retired from Christian Village and has
been with the CIVC only a few short months, but Fernandes said she
is proving to be invaluable in her role.
Fernandes moved on to welcoming comments, thanking all those who had
come to the dedication and noting that it was a very large crowd.
She then introduced Pastor Brandon Sullivan from the New Holland
Zion Lutheran Church to open the dedication with a prayer. She said
that at each CIVC meeting, the event begins with an opening prayer.
When Sullivan was finished, Fernandes went into
explaining the dedication of the Atlanta homes to the three late
veterans as well as the two new veterans who would occupy the homes.
Fernandes then went into explaining that the homes being dedicated
involved five men, the late Robert Griffith, the late Michael
Hancock, the late Joe Schaler, Cochran and Baker, all veterans who
have served our country in the armed forces.
Fernandes named each one and their military rank saying that they
were men who did not know each other, but God knew them all and his
hand was in all of this.
VIDEO - Marsha Fernandes reads a letter
written by Linda McVey
She then went on to read a letter that was written to the CIVC
regarding the late Robert Griffith and Michael Hancock. The letter
explained that at the age of 24 Robert Griffith was emotionally
burdened by his experiences after three tours of duty and took his
own life as a result of his anguish. Hancock had been stationed at
Camp Legume and suffered esophageal cancer as a result of that
station. He passed away at age 59.
Joe Schaler spoke at the Memorial Day Services in Atlanta in May of
2023 where he spoke about the homes that were being built for
veterans by the CIVC. Linda McVey was in the audience, and she was
an aunt to Griffith and a sister to Hancock.
The letter explained that McVey was moved by what she
heard, and she knew then that some how she had to help the CIVC make
a positive difference in the lives of veterans as a way of honoring
her family members.
Therefore, the two homes, located at 104 and 106 NE Second Street,
are named the Rob house at 106 and the Mike house at 104.
Fernandes said that when the two veterans go into their new homes,
they will find a black and white flag in a frame on their kitchen
tables. On the back of each flag is the story of the man for whom
the home has been named.
She spoke on Schaler saying that he was dedicated marine who had
served his country well, though rarely speaking of his experiences.
He was a Purple Heart recipient and had also suffered the
consequences of Agent Orange. She said he had a servant’s heart and
a deep love for veterans. He began CIVC in 2018 and brought to the
community the Veteran Tiny Home project. She said his dedication and
his vision brought the organization and the home building project to
the place it is today. She shared that Schaler died unexpectedly
earlier this year, but that the foundation he has laid is continuing
on in his honor and memory.
Fernandes moved on to talking about those who had
contributed so much to the building of the homes. She introduced the
crew of volunteers who had been the foundation of the building
efforts. Those included the general foreman Spud Newhouse along with
Tom Cade, Micke Downing, Joe Funk, Gene Hickey, David Harris Harry
Cassidy, John Ford and Linda McVey. She added that Mike Lee, Dave
White and Derek and Duane White had also contributed much to these
two homes. She added that there were others who worked on the house
as well, and remembered all those from the community who had kept
workers nourished with plenty of food brought to the job sites.
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When Fernandes was finished, Cochran and Baker were
called to stand with her along with members of each man’s family,
Linda McVey and PJ Hancock the late Mike Hancocks wife for a ribbon
cut. When the cut was completed, the closing prayer was offered by
Pastor Henry Johnson of Eminence Christian Church.
Dan Benedict, Annie Coers and Larry
Cochran
Steve Baker with PJ Hancock –
Mike Hancock’s wife The men
and their immediate family members were invited into their homes for
the first time. Fernandes asked the crowd to give the men a few
moments with their families before being welcomed in to take a tour
of the two houses.
After a few moments, the public was invited to tour each home and
welcome the new residents of Atlanta.
[Nila Smith]
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