You Should Know About Our Rockland Real Estate Profession - Read This

The story begins in 1942, when the US Army took over more that 2,000 acres in Orangetown to build a place named "Camp Shanks" as part of the world's largest Port of Embarkation. More than 1.3 million GIs from all over the United States came to "Camp Shanks" to get prepared to fight the nazi army. Thousands never returned, thousands returned with broken bodies and minds.

After the war, Camp Shanks became our nation's largest Veteran housing project in the United States before the land was returned to Orangetown with the exceptions of a few acres on Western Highway in the hamlet of Tappan, which became the HQ for the Nike Missile Program as part of the "COLD WAR" with Russia in the 50's.

Then, one day, around 2009, the Federal Government declared the few acres surplus and available only to serve the homeless. There were a great many interested parties, some with plans that would not be the best thing to happen to the hamlet of Tappan.

With a long and very successful record of providing community homes for people with special needs and veterans, a few of us created a not-for-profit charity, Rockland Homes For Heroes, to secure a lease on what was sacred military land for homeless Veterans only and we were awarded the lease with which we built just 8 supportive permanent apartments which have saved and changed lives. This earned a deed which motivated us to add 14 more apartments on the parcel.

We are now less than 9 months to complete the Construction with Grants from the State and over $700,000 contributions from the Rockland Community and hopeing to raise more contributions to add to the construction the accessaries that will make every apartment ready to be moved into by a homeless Veteran and even enough accessaries to ensure the entire 22 apartments meet the current standards of the surrounding community.

As we were planning to raise the money, four gentlemen , with a plan walked into my life. They would reach out to the Rockland Real Estate community and related businesses to "ADOPT" the 14 apartments with a contribution of $5,000o for each apartment. I thought my Guardian Angel showed up.

When I heard the offer, I also heard why they were planning such a gift. Besides words like building homes in a home neighborhood that would meet the standard of the neighborhood were words about the hamlet's history [George Washington 's Army camped on Western Highway just a few yards away], I heard words that moved me deeply. For instance

Supporting Home for Heroes just makes sense - my father was a WWII GI, part of that "Greatest Generation" that saved the world from unspeakable tyranny and evil. Since then GI's like him have given their all to do the same in a modern world fighting around the globe to keep America and freedom alive. Not one single veteran should ever have to worry about homelessness or hunger. They deserve our support and gratitude and Home for Heroes is the best way to show that support in Rockland, said Paul Adler of Rand Commercial.

As a grandson of holocaust survivors freed by the USMC helping the veterans and especially those down on their luck is a blood duty of mine, and I am happy that this opportunity came to me so that I can give something to repay at least a small portion of the debt that I owe to those that gave everything they got, said Joel Gruber of Rand Commercial.

The reason why I've chosen to support Rockland Homes for Heroes is simple. It is simply the right thing to do. While not directly having the opportunity to serve, I have, through my work with volunteer firefighting, scouting and work with other mental health organizations like Reps for Responders, have seen first hand the challenges and obstacles that this population in particular faces. It is not only the physical scars endured and visible but the invisible quiet suffering manifested in PTSD, depression, substance abuse and tragically suicide. Hearing their stories and seeing the alarming results and the climbing stastics of suicide breaks my heart and adding homelessness on top of an already uphill battle is just too much. Our veterans who have risked life and limb to serve our country and to protect our rights deserve better. I'm a father of three young boys, soon to be men, if I don't step up and volunteer to do what I can (I'm too old and they don't want me in the reserves but I tried hahah) what kind of example am I setting for them? Doing nothing, saying nothing, is doing something and that something isn't what I want to do - I want to help as I would want my children to help, said Michael Chang of Rand commercial.

As the grandson of a WWII veteran, I am reminded of the honorable service from the Men and Women of the Armed Forces. These noble people have put their lives on the line to make sure we can live in a free and peaceful world. They have served the world at large and when they return home they should never have to worry about homelessness and hunger. It is our time to serve them and give back by ensuring that their housing needs are met in Rockland county - the same County where hundreds of thousands of men and women embarked during WWII, to protect and serve the free world, said Samuel Adler of Rand Commercial.

Rockland County has many reasons to boost. It's local Real Estate Industry is one of them.

John Allen Murphy, one of the Founders of Rockland Homes For Heroes and President its Board Of Directors and a Veteran. www.rocklandhomesforheroes.org