General Quenneville presented the PHCC members with a plaque of appreciation during the PHCC of Massachusetts annual convention in Hyannis, for their volunteer work to help Massachusetts National Guard families.

The contractors have provided emergency services to seven families for such projects as repairing ruptured hoses and broken pipes. All projects were coordinated through the National Guard, which processes requests for emergency response assistance and tries to find reputable companies or organizations to perform the work.

The PHCC Massachusetts state office served as the placement office for the projects, providing contractors to do the work when the projects and locations were feasible.

"These have been very fulfilling projects for our members," said George Trethewey, PHCC of Massachusetts president. "It is a way for them to go in and help someone who is in a difficult situation, such as water in the basement or a heating system that doesn't work.

"Our members just wanted to do what they could to support our troops."

Contractors participating in the program include E.F. Corcoran Plumbing & Heating, Springfield; Denommee Plumbing & Heating, Tyngsboro; Nazzaro Plumbing & Heating, Chelmsford; Trethewey Brothers, Roslindale; and Wilson Plumbing & Heating, East Hampton. Two New Hampshire PHCC members, Bow Plumbing and Heating, Bow, and Swain Plumbing and Heating, Candia, participated in a project in Derry, N.H.

Thomas Theroux, executive director of the Massachusetts PHCC, explained that once contractor-members indicated that they wanted to help families of military stationed overseas, he researched the possibilities. The National Guard seemed to be the best fit. Theroux said the relationship has worked out quite well, and the chapter will continue volunteering with the National Guard on a case-by-case basis.

Publication date: 07/19/2004