East Haven residents gathered on Saturday for a day of service organized by House of Heroes Connecticut, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans maintain safe, livable homes. Dozens of volunteers from local partners—including Quinnipiac University, Northrop Grumman and Sikorsky—worked side‑by‑side to repair the house of U.S. Army veteran Ernest “Ernie” Perno.
Veteran’s gratitude and health challenges
Perno, who was drafted and served two years in Vietnam, expressed deep appreciation for the assistance. “This help is unbelievable. I don’t know this. No words for it,” he said. The veteran, now dealing with diabetes and atrial fibrillation, explained that his health issues have limited his ability to perform home‑maintenance tasks. “I’m a diabetic. I got AFIB. I can’t do anything anymore. Very little. So this is, you could say, a lot of work. So this is great,” he added.
Volunteer teams tackle repairs
The volunteer crews focused on a range of tasks: trimming overgrown branches, filling deep cracks in the foundation, and renovating a backyard shed. Their efforts were coordinated by House of Heroes Connecticut, which aims to complete dozens of veteran home‑repair projects each year, all free of charge to the homeowners.
Community spirit and veteran support
Executive Director Carol Day emphasized the organization’s mission, stating, “It’s our duty as humanitarians to come out and give him one day of service and help them out.” The volunteers not only repaired the home but also spent time listening to Perno’s story. He recalled the lack of attention veterans received after returning from Vietnam, noting, “We never talked about Vietnam. Nobody wanted to hear. Nobody cared for a long time, you know, be honest with you.”
Day noted that attitudes have shifted, and the outpouring of help on Saturday reflected a growing community commitment to honoring those who served. “While Perno says times have changed, he was still overwhelmed by the number of people willing to spend their Saturday helping someone they had never met,” she said.
Looking ahead
Saturday marked the final home‑repair project of the year for House of Heroes Connecticut. The organization is already planning for next year, aiming to recruit more volunteers and raise additional funds to expand its reach across Connecticut. By continuing to mobilize local businesses, universities and civic groups, the nonprofit hopes to ensure that veterans like Perno receive the support they deserve.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut (Hartford) — read the source article.
