Community
Since December of last year, a fund raising effort has been made to renovate the Fort Mill National Guard Armory "Comfort" Room. This is a room that the Guard uses when they have down time on the weekends when they come in for training. It is used as a room in which families can say goodbye when the troops deploy. This room may also be used as a place for families to meet and make use of while the troops are deployed.
Our efforts, to date, have resulted in the complete renovation of the room thanks to Home Depot, Lowe's, and a large number of volunteers. Organizers tried to hold a golf tournament to fund the furnishing of the room, but, poor response caused it to be canceled. Funds are still needed in order to finish the room.
On July 29th, at 6pm, anyone that has participated in this project, and, anyone interested in it, is invited to come to the Armory and see the progress that has been made. Food and refreshments will be served and attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and find out what is still needed.
The Armory is located at 276 Munn Road, Fort Mill, SC. The Armory is beside St. Philip Neri Catholic Church and across the street from Fort Mill High School.
Due to a lack of response, the Golf Tournament to benefit the Fort Mill Guard Armory "Comfort Room" was canceled. Organizers are still trying to raise the necessary funds to complete the room. The many community businesses that had planned to sponsor a hole have donated the money they had planned to give for that and the construction of the room is almost complete. On July 29th, the Military Order of the Purple Heart is inviting all those interested in this project to come see the progress on the room and help discuss ways to see that the project is completed. For more information on this call Maxwell House of Design at (704) 400- 8953
The Military Order of the Purple Heart has decided to hold a golf tournament benefiting the local National Guard Unit. For several months, this organization has been trying to raise funds to renovate the Fort Mill Armory comfort room. In order to complete the task, a Golf Tournament will be held on June 21st, at the Springfield Golf Club at 9am. The proceeds from this tournament will go toward completing the comfort room and any funds raised over and above that need will go toward supporting the families of the guard. The Fort Mill Guard is on their third deployment to the war zone. These brave men and women clear the way for our ground troops to advance. There has already been one serious injury to one of the troops in the unit. This Golf Tournament is a way for the members of our community to say thank you to these brave men and women that serve us locally and abroad.
The Fort Mill National Guard Armory Recreation Room Renovation
The Fort Mill National Guard recently deployed overseas and Rich Roszelle of the Military Order of the Purple Heart plans to do something about the deplorable conditions of the Armory recreation room. Mr. Roszelle spends his time as a member of the MOPH working to better the lives of active servicemen and veterans.
The area in question is a room for the Guard to use for relaxation during their week-end training sessions. This space will also be used by the families of the deployed as a place to meet, comfort, and connect with each other for support while the Guard is away. Mr. Roszelle has enlisted the help of Interior Designer, Jane Ann Maxwell of Maxwell House of Design, to oversee the renovation and redesign of this space. Ms. Maxwell has taken this on, as a volunteer project, and as a way to give back to the Fort Mill community. "The goal is to give the guys a great place to hang out, as a surprise for when they return from their tour of duty," says Ms. Maxwell, "we also want the families to be able to have a place to meet and find comfort."
This Armory renovation project has had help from Melissa Dubeau, a Social Work graduate school candidate, with her fund-raising ideas and door-to-door work. G. Richard Anderson has taken professional photographs to illustrate the current dismal state of the room. Jennifer Lopez, an interior design student, has been assisting Ms. Maxwell as a volunteer. This project has received donations from the Nest Furnishings, Dianna's Blinds and Designs, Lowes Home Improvement, and there are more that have indicated an interest in becoming involved. The men's group from the Flint Hill Baptist Church have already got involved by donating their time and labor to the cause, by doing the demolition work needed to make way for the new furnishings and fittings, that are to come.
If you would like to become involved or make a donation, you can email janeann@maxwellhouseofdesign.com or drop by the Fort Mill Armory on Munn Road, Fort Mill, SC. If you want to write a check, please make it out to 'The Military Order of the Purple Heart, Rock Hill 2008.'
All of the pictures in this article are the "before" shots that show the current conditions of the Armory. Thanks to G. Richard Anderson for volunteering to take professional photos for this project.
