Extreme heat drives most of us inside, but there are some notable exceptions. Reporter David Haldane explains…
It was a scorching 115 degrees in the shade. Most residents of Twentynine Palms spent the recent heat wave huddled in air conditioned homes or offices waiting for the weather to change. Not 18 naval corpsmen from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. They braved the heat like heroes, spending a whole day last week pruning, hoeing and raking for people who couldn’t do it themselves.
The work was performed under the auspices of Reach Out Morongo Basin, a nonprofit that matches volunteers with senior citizens in need. The help squad’s first stop was at the home of Al Telez, a disabled Korean War veteran himself, whose yard was overgrown after the heavy winter rains.
Telez called the job they did “wonderful” and extended his blessings.
Homeowner Alice Lawson, who had her yard raked and cleared of weeds, expressed sincere gratitude for the service. “I used to do all this work myself,” she said, “but I just can’t do it anymore.”
