News

Community rallies together to help local veteran

EASTON, Mass. — A community came together to help an Army veteran after a crash totaled his car, leaving him without a means to get around.

To some, a 2005 Dodge Caravan might be just another car, but to Gordon Melin it's a very special gift.

On Veteran's Day, Gordon was in a crash where, even though he didn't suffer any major injuries, still left his car totaled.

"I was lucky, you know I'll tell anyone to buckle up," said Gordon. "I didn't know how to get home that night."

Gordon says it was right after the accident that the generosity from his neighbors started to show.

"This lady heard (I couldn't get home) and she came up and said 'I'll give you a ride home,'" said Gordon.

Soon after the accident, Gordon ran into town selectman Kevin McIntyre at the post office, where he explained his car had been totaled and he had no means to get a new one.

"It wasn't going to be a smooth fix for Gordon," said McIntyre. "I said, 'my wife passed away a year ago and I had her car available if you want, you can take my wife's car.'"

McIntyre then mentioned the issue with a friend at Automotive Innovations, who then donated a van and began asking for help repairing it.

"It needed a battery, brakes, tires, a lot of mechanical work," said McIntyre.

The crew at Sullivan Tire in Bridgewater stepped in and did a lot of the work.

The new van was gifted to Gordon to make sure he had a way to get around.

"I just don't know how to thank them all," said Gordon.

On top of the van, the loan that Gordon owed on his car was paid off anonymously.

"You never realize how many nice people there are until something bad happens, you always hear about the bad things but there are a lot of good people out there," said Gordon.