FORT WORTH (1080 KRLD) - An Army veteran is gifted a new roof for his home in south Fort Worth.
Martin James Owens Jr. served in the Army for six years, which included a tour of duty in Vietnam.
"I don't consider myself a hero in any fashion of the word," says Owens. "I was just doing my job."
In recent years, Owens' roof had sustained considerable damage.
"They didn't do a very good job," Owens says of the installer of his previous roof. "It was 21 years ago, and the shingles were actually flying off and laying in the yard."
On top of that, Owens has faced some personal struggles over the last year.
"I lost my wife in January of last year, right before all this (pandemic) mess hit," says Owens. "But I have to keep on going (and) keep on working."
Owens was nominated to get a new roof through Lon Smith Roofing’s Roofs For Vets program.
"Far too many people don't realize that many of our veterans face financial challenges," says Lon Smith President Shawn Michael. "And they can't afford a new roof but may need one."
On Thursday, workers were busy installing a new roof at Owens' house at no charge.
"Once a quarter, we come out. We honor a local veteran by installing a new roof on their home when they can't afford it," says Michael. "And we do that at absolutely no cost to that veteran."
Owens is the caretaker of seven children and grandchildren -- a tall task compounded by the fact that he works the graveyard shift.
"He works from midnight to 6:00 a.m., comes home (and) gets a little rest," says Michael. "And then from noon to 4:00 in the afternoon, he goes around picking up his children and grandchildren from school and then repeats the process all over again."
Owens says he's very grateful for his new roof.
"I've never received anything in my life like this," he says. "The only thing that's ever happened to me is the government taking things away from me."