November

Veteran feels blessed with new home

Habitat for Humanity builds home

Updated: Thursday, 12 Nov 2009, 10:13 AM EST
Published : Wednesday, 11 Nov 2009, 11:51 PM EST

Tiffanie Dismore

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A flag was raised this Veterans Day in a very special yard.

The yard will soon be called home to National Guardsmen Jeremy Cain and his family. This is the first house in Habitat for Humanity has built for a veteran in Lafayette and Jeremy Cain can't believe this house will become his home.

"I'm still kind of speechless," Cain said. "No words can describe it except a blessing. To have all these people here to support the build. I know there will be many more to come and I look forward to helpling them build."

The wood frames are up and the home is expected to be finished by Christmas. There are some special people helping build Cain's house: veterans.

"To learn about these guys. The guys that have been building for such a long time. It is such a great history with each one. How they live life. There's a lot to learn," Cain said.

With the construction on the house underway, Habitat executive director Doug Taylor says Veterans Day is the perfect time to honor Cain and all veterans. He says this project is something Habitat for Humanity has wanted to do for more than a year.

"Our staff thought well let's just build a house in honor of a veterans in the greater Lafayette community so this is a result of that," Taylor said.

Habitat for Humanity also presented Cain with his own toolbelt to use on his house. Cain says he plans to work on other Habitat homes for veterans in the future.

Cain has served in the National Guard since 2000 and is no longer in active duty.

Article can be found at WLFI18.com:
www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/

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August

Purdue cadets practice leadership, teamwork

August 19, 2009

It's called "Zero Week."

Purdue ROTC cadets report early to go through orientation and do training exercises this week, including the high ropes course on campus. On Friday, the battalion will be activated.

About 120 Army ROTC cadets have reported this week, said Maj. R. Travis Clark, the ROTC enrollment and scholarship adviser at Purdue University.

The senior cadets shoulder the bulk of leadership responsibilities during the school year, he said.

"The senior cadets are responsible for training freshmen, sophomores and juniors," Clark said. "We are training them to be real world leaders.

"We focus on facilitating what they are doing. They are getting into the mode of being a lieutenant."

He said the seniors are involved in all events and projects.

"They do all the work," Clark said.

The high rope course is used not only by ROTC cadets, but also by Purdue employees.

Clark said the seniors think they know the course, until they get on it. He said it's a new challenge each year.

"The idea is to bring our seniors together, to build unity," he said. "They have to work together as a team to accomplish certain goals.

"The rope course looks easy, but it is difficult. It makes you focus on planning, teamwork, communication and reaction."

Senior Grant Wanamaker is a "completion cadet" who will be commissioned a second lieutenant at the end of the first semester. He is from Crystal Lake, Ill., in the Chicago area.

"The high rope course is a lot of fun," he said. "Once you get on, it is OK.

"You have a climbing harness and steel cables, but there is a moment of panic because you will fall. You are even blindfolded at one point."

He said the rope exercise also will be done by the freshmen, sophomores and juniors this week.

"The battalion activation ceremony is special," he said. "Everybody is in uniform. We'll have a cookout afterwards."

Wanamaker is a construction management major who will go into engineering with the Army. He received a four-year scholarship and will serve four years on active duty.

By BOB SCOTT
bscott@jconline.com
Journal and Courier Newspaper