EATON RAPIDS, Mich. — A Gold Star mom struggling to make repairs on her home was gifted a new roof by a few good samaritans. Judy Smith lives by herself and needed help repairing her roof. When she entered a competition and lost, that's when a friend of her son came to her aide and they created a lasting friendship
The flag draped around her front porch is much more than a symbol, but a token of love.
"He was very dedicated to his country and the people. That's what he told me when he signed up to go to Iraq," said Smith.
The Gold Star on her front door is an emblem of sacrifice. An honor Smith says no mother wants.
He left when he was 18 and he was in the army over 10 years.
Smith's son Justin was an Army First Lieutenant killed by a suicide bomber in the Iraq War. When he died, she says a piece of her did too.
Living alone and falling way behind on home repairs she asked Facebook for help with her roof. She was shocked when a friend of Justin, came to her rescue.
"Not to sound cliche, but he [Justin] was literally the guy that would give a stranger the shirt off his back," said Greg Mock, a construction worker at Beery Construction. "He was the nicest, most generous guys that I really ever known."
Mock talked to his boss and they organized to replace the whole roof. He got local companies to donate supplies and his coworkers to donate their time.
"She needed it really bad," said Mock. "People think about the soldiers and what they go through but I don't think there's enough emphasis on their families."
But he didn't stop there. Even after the job was over Mock kept coming back to do more repairs and hang out with Smith.
"We kind of hit it off right away," said Smith. "Justin and he are the same age, so you know I kinda miss having a young man around and he is fabulous, really caring, has a giving heart. I'm so glad I met him."
What started off as an act of charity turned into a lasting bond.
"She's an absolute sweetheart," said Mock. "If we can come together and do something like this for somebody like Judy on a regular basis it would be a lot better place to be you know."
Mock says Beery Construction is looking to help a veteran's family every year and are taking suggestions from the community. He says many helped out. Granger let the crew trash everything for free. MPC Cashway Lumber, ABC Supply, and Legg Lumber provided supplies. Trivium Salon even volunteered to do Judy's hair.
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