MIAMI – This past Veterans Day, the Miami HEAT renovated the homes of two local U.S. Veterans as part of the Miami HEAT Home Strong initiative. HEAT President Pat Riley, HEAT Legends Alonzo Mourning and Glen Rice and HEAT staffers worked alongside the U.S. servicemen and women from U.S. Armed Forces and volunteers from Rebuilding Together to repair and restore both homes, including painting, landscaping and flooring. The HEAT funded the renovations, which benefited U.S. Army Veteran, John Williams, and U.S. Navy Veteran, Horace Coley.
John Williams is an 87-year-old U.S. Army Veteran who was born and raised in Overtown, FL. Mr. Williams is a Korean War veteran where he served from 1950-1953. During the war he served as a Private First Class and was honorably discharged in 1953. After being discharged, Mr. Williams returned to Miami where he has lived since. He inherited the house he grew up in after his mother passed away at the age of 101. The family has lived in the home for over 60 years.
Horace Coley is a 43-year-old U.S. Navy Veteran who lives with his mother Rose, 72, in their Gladeview home. He enlisted straight out of high school to serve his country and was stationed for the majority of his service at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, FL. One of Horace’s many tasks included tracking ships while aboard the USS Boone and the USS Paul. After 4 years of service, he was honorably discharged.
The renovation project began simultaneously at 12:30 p.m. Riley, Mourning and Rice arrived at the Williams home at approximately 2:00 p.m. and then moved on to the Coley home later in the afternoon.
The Miami HEAT continues to demonstrate its respect for and admiration of the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces by expanding Home Strong, its long-standing military initiative founded by HEAT President Pat Riley in 2006. On November 8th, when the HEAT took on the Toronto Raptors, the team formally debuted its Home Strong uniform, a visual extension of the team’s ongoing charitable work with military families. The HEAT will also wear the Home Strong uniform during tonight’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers and on November 12th vs. the Utah Jazz. During these three home games, saluting the military takes center stage including the airing of a Home Strong player introduction video featuring local U.S. servicemen and women representing all branches of the Armed Forces standing side-by-side with HEAT players; the distribution of 20,000 commemorative, double-sided posters featuring the 2015-16 Miami HEAT roster on one side and 15 local military members on the other; the unfurling of a 40′ American flag at center court; and the presentation of colors and the singing of the National Anthem by current military members. The November 8th game marked the 399th consecutive game during which a local veteran has been honored via the Home Strong initiative. The mission of the Home Strong initiative is to give aid, support and recognition to any person who has been in harm’s way during their military service. Home Strong is presented by C1 Bank.
Rebuilding Together is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable housing through home renovations for low-income homeowners.
