Mishawaka veteran receives new furnace system from local business

MISHAWKA, Ind. -- Just before Christmas, one local business is giving back to a local veteran Saturday morning.

For several years, Henry Smith Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling has participated in Christmas for a Hero, and this is the third year the business has partnered with Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County.

The business donates their services and materials to a local veteran in need through the program.  

“We’re pretty passionate about our patriotism. We employ veterans, and we care about this great nation. These folks go out and make sacrifices so that we can live the way we live. It just kinda touched our heart strings, and we decided to take it upon ourselves to give back to these people,” said Henry Smith PHC Owner, Bartt Smith.

This year, local Mishawaka Veteran Rose Marie Lamirand’s existing furnace system was replaced by a new high efficiency system.

“Oh my gosh, you can’t put it in words. You just can’t. It’s gone out, my furnace has gone out every year and one time I had to have a thermocouple put in. I don’t know on the other, so I was just waiting for something to happen to it this year,” she said.

Lamirand served in the U.S. Army for over eight years. She has been without a working thermostat for several years.

“I’m a pretty lucky person. You know, I loved being in the military and I love being out too. It seems like every time I need something, something comes through. You know, something I wasn’t expecting, which is like what this did,”said the grateful homeowner.