Sears? Yeah that's right. Sears!

Rebuilding Together and Sears' Heroes at Home program assists veteran with critical needs.

(CLEVELAND) - Rebuilding Together, the nation's leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership, is working with Sears and Samsung Hope for Children on a Heroes at Home project, serving an Iraq War veteran. Heroes at Home projects serve the nation's military members and families by addressing their critical housing needs.

Danielle, a 34-year-old Iraqi war veteran, suffered serious injuries while serving in Baghdad. She was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade that severely injured her left side, damaging her leg and resulting in the amputation of her left arm. A graduate of Notre Dame University on a basketball scholarship before joining the army, Danielle returned home to obtain two master's degrees and currently works helping other combat veterans who suffer from mental illness.

Dozens of Sears, Samsung and local volunteers will complete critical home upgrades in a Heroes at Home project, creating safety and independent mobility to ensure the home meets veteran Danielle's needs. Construction includes handicap-accessible upgrades, a new doorway, attic and stabilization of the rear porch, along with necessary updates to help improve her living space.

In addition to Sears' cash donation for the rebuild, Samsung will donate new appliances and electronics. The Samsung contribution is part of its Hope for Children program, which represents the company's ongoing philanthropic commitment to help children live smarter, healthier and more sustainable lives.

These services and products, at no cost to Danielle, will allow her to live independently and safely.

Sears? Yeah that's right.

Sears!

We moved into our first home January 1987,
A year-old baby, big backyard, it was heaven,
Uncle Henry, Johnny of the spot, cut the grass,
Already advance in years, knew it wouldn’t last.

My wife and started out with the toddler in tow,
Seeking dependability for future years to mow,
I had become spoiled, could I really do the lawn?
The cloudy dusk of nightfall or the light of dawn?

Washer, dryer & frig was the Sears Kenmore name,
Just made good sense for our mower to be the same,
19 years later, plugs, a couple of air filters changed,
Never once had to use the warranty that also came.

Solid, reliable, quality, my parents shopped at Sears,
I was born in the year 1950 it’s been over 60 years,
Like with the push mower dad kept his yard clean,
Just purchased @ Sears our new washing machine.

Found out something today that I truly did not know,
About the homegrown treatment of GI Jane & GI Joe,
Unlike requesting coffee from billion dollar Starbucks,
As soldiers in Iraq were informed it was just tough luck.

No wonder fighting service men and women are nervous,
1 was even denied their job from the U.S. Postal Service,
By our law, employers are to hold jobs but nothing more,
When Americans are called to participate overseas in war.

However, how many times do we find this is not the case?
Shot at in uniform, coming home to get slapped in the face,
There is very little done in Washington about the disgrace,
While record amounts are spent in the 2008 presidential race.

Hoo-ray! There is United States Company quiet as it is kept,
We have a retail corporation, who will not allow them to forget,
Sacrifice is not a word spoken without merit like in politics,
When this store gets behind you they put everything in the mix.

What a shame, in this country we have to search near and far,
You would think it should be Wal-Mart, as rich as they are,
Ha! They’d rather build up then tear down a brand new store,
Only the owners, not employees, are supposed to earn more.

Shoppers, buckle your seat belts, firmly hold on to your hats,
Since I’m about to tell you where these patriotic stores are at,
Open wide the eyes, put on glasses, take a Q-tip to your ears,
The retailer I am talking about is the old standby AKA, Sears.

Surely, the greatest sacrifice our young men and women can make,
Is on the battlefield so Sears gives while others will only take,
Happy to do our part to lessen the burden they bear at this time,
It’s their motto & why Sears always has the 1st look at my dime.

Paying the difference in salaries while maintaining all benefits,
Medical insurance and bonus programs, no this is not a misprint,
Wow! For all called up reservist employees for up to two years.
I’ll shop somewhere else only if what I want isn’t sold @ Sears.

By Luke Easter

Luke Easter is a poet who writes about things that are very close to the heart of Salem-News.com. Another former U.S. Marine, Luke heals the world with an approach that reaches people on a different level, one known for centuries, yet too often forgotten in the one we live in.

We live in a world of social & economic injustice. The main reason for founding America in the first place was to relieve the oppression of the King of England. Patrick Henry said it best, “give me liberty or give me death.” And yet, all too often death seems to be the only way out. Why is there such a high suicide rate especially among teens, in the land of the free & the home of the brave? What makes headlines? Good news? Ha! More depressing stories than anything else. I feel poetry takes an edge off the hurt of bad news while still delivering it but in a, “glitzy” sort of way. Giving a different perspective. Kind of like slap in the face as opposed to a knife in the back. At least with the slap you’ll live to see another day and you will know whom it’s from. I wasn’t here for the beginning of the world but at 59, I just might be here for the end.

Even though it’s still a knife, rhyme poetry helps to dull the blade. And that’s my job. You can write to Luke Easter at: lyricsfromlucas@aol.com

Sears? Yeah that's right. Sears!

Sears? Yeah that's right.

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