Purple Heart Homes Colorado Front Range Chapter

Purple Heart Homes fills the gaps in housing through the Veterans' Aging In Place & Veterans Home Ownership Programs. From building a ramp for a WWII Veteran to providing home ownership opportunities to Veterans, our programs are designed out of necessity and fit the needs of the Veteran population.

Testimonials

At 90 years old, Lee Rees has a lot to be thankful for and he knows it. As he puts it, he's lived "a blessed life with no regrets." Mr. Rees spent 8 years with the Navy in World War II and Korea. After his time with the Navy, he returned to the states and put his training to work for him. In 1959 he started a flight school and later spent 39 years with United Airlines, 24 of which he was a certified FAA inspector where he spent time on the wreckage team and as an investigator. But one if his greatest blessings was his family and Geraldean, his wife of 49 years. The couple shared their love with thousands through their nearly 20 years of missionary work that brought them across the country and the world - including countries where he had served during wartime.

The bulk of Lee Rees' military service was spent in the belly of a naval vessel in the Pacific. While the sailors were on deck, he was in the caverns repairing engines and making sure the ship could do whatever the Captain needed it to. At one point, the Captain even sent Lee off to help a tank battalion in the Army as a mechanic where he spent several months keeping the engines running while they took hill after hill under constant fire. Always in the hull of a ship or in a tank, he carried a weapon but never used it on another man. While in the Pacific, Rees' ship was strafed nightly by Russian Migs but no matter what was happening up top, Lee was doing what he had to below deck to make sure that his ship stayed afloat and moving.

Even after Lee Rees left the Navy, he stayed involved with his military brothers and sisters. He was active in the VFW and served as Commander of his local American Legion chapter for 14 years until the loss of his eyesight made it too difficult to continue his duties. He is very proud of his service there, bringing them from bankruptcy to solvency and strengthening the chapter's position in the community.

Mr. Rees is proud of his work aboard the USS William C Cole at Bikini Atoll, Guadalcanal and across the Pacific for both World War II and Korea and has been back to Korea several times. He spoke of the massive changes that he's witnessed in South Korea, the graciousness of the people there and the Commendation Medal that he received from the president of South Korea (in addition to other medals and ribbons from his own country). He spoke proudly of the work that he did stateside as well with over 3200 hours of flying planes and helicopters, the pilots he trained and his work with the FAA on downed planes. He spoke of the wonderful decades he had with his wife that passed last year shortly after their 49th wedding anniversary and of raising their combined family of eight children. As he said, he has lived a blessed life with no regrets. But his flying days are long over, his work with the American Legion is behind him and the love of his life is now gone. His eyesight is getting worse and worse by the day and with that the ability to take in the beauty of his surroundings. And while his eyesight quickly fades, he still is able to get around his home a little and enjoy his time with his family, including his daughter Debra who cares for him and is also a veteran. Because his mobility is limited with his house not being handicap accessible, he has not had the "luxury" of a bath or shower in months, relying on sponge baths for his care.

Our mission is to be able to bless Mr. Rees' life as he has for so many through both his military and civilian contributions. We will be widening door frames in his home to make them easily accessible by wheelchair, adding wheelchair ramps and a deck and will be remodeling his bathroom to make it wheelchair accessible and make it easier for him to care for himself - a dignity that he should not be without. We are grateful to be able to have the opportunity to work with one of our World War II veterans to make his remaining days more safe inside his home.