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Portage vet receives gift of new roof for Veterans Day

Roof Works USA gives Parkin free replacement roof for Veterans Day

PORTAGE -- Army veteran David Parkin and his wife, Georgette, received a new roof Wednesday on their Portage Township home, courtesy of Roof Works USA and Owens Corning.

In 2016, Owens Corning launched its roof deployment project, a nationwide program that aims to provide free roof replacements to U.S. military veterans and their families.

The local Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association selected Parkin as this year's recipient, according to Don Booth, a Roof Works USA employee.

Owens Corning donated the roofing materials, while the Duncansville-based Roof Works USA provided the labor at no cost to the Parkins, who've lived in their house for more than 50 years.

David Parkin said it was a nice gesture for both companies to donate their resources to give him a new roof for Veterans Day.

"We don't have to worry about more shingles blowing loose," Parkin said, adding he was surprised when he found out he was selected as this year's recipient.

"I didn't realize that I would be the one for that. But I said we'll take it," he said.

"We're very grateful for what they're doing for us," Georgette Parkin added. "They're doing more than what I really expected. I just expected shingles on the top roof, but they're doing more than that."

Joe Myers, who handles the estimating and sales for Roof Works USA, said the Parkins' roof was bad, so they had to do a full resheet -- putting new oriented strand board -- over the entire roof, in addition to fixing the ventilation and laying the Owens Corning shingles.

The cost of installing a new roof on an average home is about $15,000, according to Myers, who said the Parkins were saving extra from the additional work that needed done.

"I'm glad that we have two companies coming together to make it happen," Myers said. "The veteran already paid their price, so it's nice, especially on a day like today, to give back to that veteran."

Myers himself served 24 years in the Army National Guard prior to working at Roof Works USA.

Roof Works USA owner Paul Balzano and his son, Bowen, oversaw the work, thanking Parkin for his service.

Bowen Balzano is a sixth grader at Penn Cambria Middle School who was enjoying his day off school with his father and the Parkins as they stood outside their house.

David Parkin said he was about 18 years old when he was drafted into the Army. He ended up going to Korea and served 16 months there, he said.

"You learn to grow up real quick when you're by yourself somewhere like that," Parkin said. "They ought to have that draft going again and let these kids go through it."

When asked whether it was hard for him to adjust back into civilian life, Parkin said, "a little bit."

"You're over there by yourself, (and) you're just waiting to see somebody that you know," Parkin said.

Parkin said he and Georgette dated a little bit before he was drafted. They got back together once he came out of the service, married and had two daughters. They now have six grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and a new roof.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.