‘Decorate a Vet’ Brings Joy to Falls Church Homes

Jeff Jones wanted a way to give back to the men and women who have out their lives on the line but didn’t know how.

The owner of a landscaping company, Jones had done work for senior citizens several times, noticing their need for exterior work at their homes and he has several veterans in his family. In November of 2010, Jones put the two together and founded Decorate a Vet.

“I’d like to expand to 10 homes next year,” said Jones who decorates between five and eight homes for veterans. “It has to be done over the weekends though.”

With no staff, Decorate a Vet depends on up to 400 volunteers to decorate the homes of veterans for Christmas.

For the first time this year, the organization had “Christmas in July,” for veterans just coming back and decorated homes then as well.

The workers aren’t the only thing that come for free—the Home Depot in Seven Corners not only sends a team of volunteers to help decorate, but they also donate the actual decorations. Jones said Home Depot donated $2,000 worth of decorations for this years decorating spree.

The American Legion Post 130 in Falls Church was one of the four places the volunteers decorated Saturday. Dozens of volunteers helped clean up the area surrounding the building and decorating the structure and trees with vibrant reds just in time for Christmas. The ages of the volunteers ranged from the very young to the seasoned adult.

Jones said in the years he has operated the organization, he has been glad to see the number of young helpers that come along.

“Part of what we try to do is get the youth involved,” Jones said.

It didn’t take much for 18-year-old James Hickey to get on board with the organization. Hickey, founder of the Young Patriots at George Mason High, said when the group heard of the imitative to help out veterans they wanted in. Hickey, who has goals of serving in the United States Army, said the organization not only gives the community to help veterans, it gives the community a platform to meet new people.

“I think in a way it’s more rewarding for the community,” said Hickey, who led the conservative high school group for two years. “You get to show your support for the people who have sacrificed for the liberties we enjoy today.”

The list of local veterans to help comes from Harry Shovlin. The treasurer at Post 130 solicits names of veterans from churches and other community organizations then turns that list over to Jones. Shovlin, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era, said he is glad to see people who aren’t veterans giving back to those who are.

“This is the first organization of non-veterans helping veterans,” Shovlin said. “This is a great event.”

Keep up with Falls Church news and events with the Patch email newsletter. Learn more here!