GLOCESTER – “I think of it as a miracle,” said Army veteran Loretta O’Neill of the new roof being installed on her house Wednesday morning, which was provided at no fee by Couto Construction. “It’s just such a blessing.”
The Chepachet resident was awarded the roof as part of the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of West Bay and Northern Rhode Island. Couto Construction donated the labor and The Owens Corning Foundation donated the roofing materials, said Couto Construction Brand President Jason Couto.
“We found a vet in need in Loretta, who had six years in the army and six in the reserves. She’s really just a good soul,” Couto said. “This time of year it’s really about getting this cause going and showing gratitude for her service to our country, showing people that good things happen to good people.”
Since 2016, the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project has provided more than 625 military members nationwide with new roofs, Couto said.
“Loretta has been out here trying to do work on her own house and with a prosthetic leg, getting up on ladders. She’s tough,” Couto said. “But a new roof is a very dangerous job and ultimately now she has 50 years where she doesn’t have to worry about a thing.”
O’Neill said if she hadn’t been awarded the roof, she would have had to take out a loan. “And that’s fine. I’d have to pay it back, but it’s a beautiful thing now I can get Christmas gifts for my grandkids.”
“I’ve got another grand baby on the way. I just found out it’s a boy. They just told me last night,” she said.
O’Neill grew up in Lincoln and joined the service at age 18. She was a combat medic in the army from 1980-1992, she said.
“The Army, to me, was adventurous,” she said. “I grew up with brothers and I was always keeping up with them.”
O’Neill flew medevac for the 19th Special Forces out of Quonset, and was one of three women serving there at the time, she said.
After the army she raised her three children in Florida and eventually moved back to Rhode Island at age 47 to finish her education, attending Lincoln Technical Institute.
“My mother always told me to finish school before you’re 50,” she said. “At graduation I gave a speech in front of all of these kids in their twenties.”
O”Neill was also a physical education coach at a Christian school in Florida, and when it closed, she co-founded the Christian Home School Athletic Association for kids six to 16 years old. The association has grown to 6,000 kids in many areas of the country and Haiti, she said.
O’Neill said she found the Roof Deployment Project when she was looking into assistance for veterans.
“I just applied and I had no idea what would happen,” she said.
Couto said that his company really wanted to surprise O’Neill.
“We met with her and we said it was going to be an interview, but we were really able to surprise her with the news,” he said. “We are just hoping to maybe inspire other people to do more to help out. It’s something we can do in these crazy times.”
“I’m just really happy,” O’Neill said. “This father and son company is great. It’s Christmas and I’m getting a new roof on the house.”
For more information on the Roof Deployment Project or to learn how you can involved, visit www.owenscorning.com/roofdeployment or www.coutoconstruction.com.
