American civilians pay tribute to the troops in a wide variety of ways. Whether it be a cross-country bike ride, a community fundraiser or volunteering, their efforts rarely go unnoticed, but one Texas man may have one of the most unique methods. Norm Duggleby, 72, has been restoring old military vehicles for more than 10 years to help honor servicemen and women, according to the Kerrville Daily Times.
His interest in military vehicles began in the mid-1990s when, while he was visiting a client, he noticed an old Jeep parked under a tarp. The vehicle had belonged to his client's late father and, intrigued by the relic of a bygone era, he bought the Jeep for just $300 and began work on restoring it several years later.
Duggleby's operation has grown considerably since then. He has also worked on the likes of a 1962 Dodge M37 and 1970 M561 Gama Goat, which was used during the Vietnam War. His restorations are more than just a hobby, however. Duggleby, who served in the Army Reserve for seven years, uses his passion as a way to pay tribute to his fellow veterans.
"My whole goal is, I want to honor the veterans," Duggleby told the newspaper. "Those guys sacrificed so much."
Duggleby's efforts represent a much larger nationwide effort to support the troops who have fought for the United States. Perhaps the most high-profile effort is the Joining Forces initiative, which is led by Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden. The first and second lady have made helping veterans a priority, which recently exceeded its goal of 100,000 jobs, and helped 125,000 vets land employment in its first year of existence.
Michelle Obama is certainly not the only member of her family who regularly pays tribute to America's servicemembers. Most recently, President Barack Obama has been emphasizing his appreciations of the troops as the two-year anniversary of the end to combat operations in Iraq just passed.
"As we turn the page on a decade of war, it's time to do some nation-building here at home," Obama said in his weekly address. "Today's veterans have the skills, the discipline, and the leadership skills to do the exact same thing – and it's our job to give them that chance."