Schenectady U.S. Army Veteran gifted new roof

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A U.S. Army Veteran in Schenectady was gifted a new roof. It was installed on Veterans Day by Next Generation Roofing.

“Today is so raw for me,” Haggart told NEWS10, reflecting on his decision to join the military. “I joined after about the 300th day of Ted Koppel’s Nightline, with our American Embassy having been overrun and taken with American citizens being held hostage,” Haggart recalled, “so I decided– I went to my mom and dad and said– I needed to join the Special Forces. We need to get our people and defend our country.”

He’s grateful to be on the other side today, and especially for the gift of a new roof. Since the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project started in 2016, more than 600 military members have received new roofs. Through a partnership with Purple Heart Homes, Haggart was selected and approved as the recipient for the roof replacement. Next Generation Roofing, based out of Halfmoon, is an Owens Corning Platinum Roofing Contractor.

When he got the call that he was selected, Haggart was in Florida assessing damage from recent hurricanes done to his and his wife Amy’s home there.

“I was actually in shock when it started to dawn on me who I was speaking to and what the actual subject matter was,” Haggart said. “We are on a fixed income, and so to receive a blessing like this, amongst all the suffering that’s happening to so many people in this country because of two hurricanes, is just– it brought me to tears.”

“His sacrifices, and his family’s sacrifices for what we get to do every day, and the freedoms that we have, are huge,” said Chad Gregory, CEO and Owner of Next Generation Roofing.