We tend to believe that veterans do a lot for our country.

Even with this in mind, we frequently fail to express our gratitude for their service.

However, when one elderly veteran began to need more help, his Washington state community rallied around him. They improved his quality of life through some truly inspiring acts of service.

Lewis Harris was living on his own in a dilapidated house.

Harris is a Marine Corps veteran in his 80’s who had been living alone for some time. He was starting to feel isolated, but as he puts it, “I definitely don’t want to be a burden to anyone.”

That tendency may have kept him from reaching out to his community sooner, but his house was becoming difficult to live in.

He was living alone in Redmond, Washington, and his house was in disrepair.

Even though he was making ends meet, things began to deteriorate for him. Harris’ health began to weaken and he realized he needed support.

Lewis Harris, like the majority of us, realized at some point that he couldn’t do everything on his own.

Despite having served in the military and accomplished much in his life, he needed to start to ask for help.

So he did, beginning by asking a grocery store clerk for assistance in getting home. He’d been out running errands when he realized he couldn’t remember how to get home. When the clerk called the police for support, the community realized Harris needed help.

*The people of Redmond, Washington began to recognize Harris needed some need for help.

When the police officer Nazariya arrived at the store, Harris was able to briefly discuss his situation.

He explained that he simply needed some source of assistance.

Harris was explaining that he couldn’t remember how to get home and couldn’t see. The officer offered a ride to bring him home. The officer realized right away that Lewis Harris was a member of the community in need of aid.

The cop and his wife began to rally around him.

Officer Nazariya knew he needed reinforcements. This was after seeing the state of Lewis Harris’ ruined house. He didn’t want to abandon Harris in that house.

Thankfully, Officer Nazariya is married to an interior designer.

He persuaded her to come over to Harris’ house. Then the married couple embarked on a major home renovation.

More people in town eventually began to pitch in.

When other businesses heard Harris’ story, they donated a large number of supplies to help him build his dream home.

They also sent in more people to assist with the physical labor.

Lewis Harris’ house was transformed into his dream house, thanks to the efforts of the entire town.

His living quarters were transformed into a space that honored his life and military service. Complete with a wall that served as a gallery of his service. He also got some gorgeous quartz countertops that will last a long time.

Lewis Harris was moved to excitement and tears when he saw his dream home.

This act of kindness also reaffirmed his determination to be the best person he can be.

Harris said to King 5:

“It almost brought me to tears, okay. I had a couple of drops there, it really touched my heart and my soul… There’s nothing I can do to ever repay them other than just be a good American and try to help other people.”

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Sources: YouTube – KING 5, King 5