WINDSOR, Conn. — 82-year-old Ed Cutler likes to get his hands dirty, and that happens daily. Cutler, an Army veteran, can often be seen in his well-equipped garage at work with his homemade initiative called “Benches for Heroes”.
Essentially, Ed refurbishes old benches and gifts them to first responders and fellow veterans.
“It’s a good feeling,” said Cutler as he was working on one of his latest benches, “I think it’s patriotism, patriotism makes you feel good.”
Cutler, who lives with his wife Joyce, and is a great-grandfather, said his goodwill project began about a decade ago.
“Whether they’re in combat or a police officer putting his life on the line every day, or a firefighter or a nurse, maybe it’s a little 12-year-old girl battling Cancer – they are heroes, they are special people,” he said.
Each bench is customized, some have personal messages carved into them. Cutler estimated he has given out around 220 hand-built benches over the past decade to recipients across New England, and, recently, he gifted a bench to a woman running an orphanage in Ukraine.
“It’s just a bench, it’s not an answer to world peace, it’s not a cure for Cancer. It’s just a bench but a lot of love goes into those benches,” Cutler added.
To learn more about “Benches for Heroes” click their Facebook page.
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