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Tuesday, October 14th, as the sun
began to drop in the western sky a large crowd gathered on Short
10th Street in Lincoln, filling the street and front lawn area of
two new Veteran Tiny Homes being celebrated for their completion.
Though the homes are referred to as “tiny” they are not all that
small, and this year for the first time, the home dedication
included the structure at 516 Short 10th with not one but two
bedrooms, designed specifically to accommodate a family.
The second structure, at 520 Short 10th was the typical one-bedroom
open floor plan with the new homeowners present to receive the keys
at the end of the dedication ceremony.
CIVC Board Chairman Kasey Cook
served as the emcee for the evening. Before the ceremony began at 6
p.m., she invited guests to come forward and sign the CIVC 2X4’s of
Hope, explaining that the board would be used in the next tiny home
build.
Among those in the crowd were
members of Boy Scout Pack 101. Those youth were the first to come
forward, with each one grabbing a marker and writing their names and
sometimes adding a message to the veteran that would receive that
next home. After the scouts had finished others joined the line,
also adding well wishes to future tiny home recipients.
At 6 p.m. the dedication program
began with the scouts participating in the placement of American
Flags on the board of each home. Scout Raylon Schreiner led the
commands for the youth to salute and present the colors. Two scouts
moved forward, walking the length of the front walk to the porch,
and placing the flags in the mounts on the front posts of the
porches. Schreiner then sang the National Anthem.
Cook then requested that CIVC
Administrative Director Julie King deliver a prayer for the new
homes and their owners.
After the prayer, the CIVC board
was introduced. Those on hand included Cook, Annie Coers, Cassie
Blue, Patti Schonauer, Amy Bree, Marsha Fernandes, Tracy Welch, and
Jim Allen. Steve Watts was unable to attend.
Cook recognized members of the Hope on 5th Board of directors that
were present including Jennifer Kirby, Judge Tom Funk (ret.), and
Eric Grunder.
The construction crew led by Spud
Newhouse was recognized with words of appreciation for their
dedication to the tiny home projects.
Cook said that the dedication
service was a “celebration of service, community, and commitment, a
reflection of what can be accomplished when people come together for
a purpose greater than themselves.”
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She explained that CIVC
(Central Illinois Veterans Commission) was originally started by
the late Joe Schaler with a single-minded purpose to provide
permanent housing for local veterans in need. She said that the
home was a testament of gratitude and respect to those who have
served our country.
Cook then mentioned the support of the community through the
donors who supported the projects financially through direct
donations and support of the CIVC fundraising efforts.
She thanked the Jim White family that donated the oversized lot
on Short 10th. The lot had room for the two homes facing Short
10th with an additional lot space in the back that will support
a third home facing North Adams Street.
Cook thanked the many volunteers who contribute to the
construction in varying degrees and expressed appreciation for
the CIVC partnership with Hope on Fifth, the Logan County
Veterans Assistance Commission and the local Marine Corps
League.
She offered special words of appreciation to the construction
crew leaders saying that their dedication to the projects was an
invaluable contribution to the success of the overall program.
With the words of appreciation
completed, it was time to introduce the recipient of the ninth tiny
home in Logan County. It should be noted that the two homes
dedicated were builds eight and nine. A private dedication of home
eight had been held prior to the public event, with the name of the
recipient family not disclosed.
The keys to home nine were turned
over to veteran Randy Lane and his wife Sam.
Cook said Lane served in the United States Army Combat Support as a
scout. After the service, he worked as a truck driver and fork lift
operator. Recently married, Cook said the home would provide Lane
and his bride with a sense of security and stability.
She then asked the couple to join her at the table, where she
presented the couple with the keys to their new home.
With the formal part of the ceremony completed, the guests were
invited to step in and take a tour of both new homes.
The two-bedroom floor plan is the
first of its kind for the CIVC. The length of the house was expanded
compared to the other one by reducing the size of the front porch.
Stepping into the home the first room is the large family room. A
wall separates the living area from the kitchen and dining area, and
the laundry for the home is located at the far end of the kitchen.
The living room area features ductless climate control on the
exterior wall with a large screen television on the long interior
wall. The first two rooms off the living area are the full bath on
one side of the short hall and the secondary bedroom on the other.
Toward the back of the house is the larger primary bedroom.
The layout of the one-bedroom home belonging to the Lanes is quite
familiar as it mirrors the other homes that have been built in the
past with an open floorplan living, kitchen and dining at the front
of the home, the bath and utility rooms off to one side and the
large bedroom at the back.
Guests walked through each of the homes, admiring the craftsmanship
as well as the décor. Cookies and bottled water were provided at
each home.
The home dedication on Tuesday
evening, as mentioned earlier, was for homes eight and nine. Of the
first seven homes, five are located in Lincoln, with two being in
Atlanta.
To become a recipient of a CIVC Tiny Home, there is an application
process. To learn more about the process visit the CIVC website at
civeteran.org. Donations
are also accepted via the website.
[Nila Smith] |
