David Morgan may be gone, but he is not forgotten. A brand new house for homeless veterans in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania bears a proud plaque with his name on it.
A U.S. Navy veteran, Morgan died in August 2013 from complications after traumatic brain injury sustained while serving in Kuwait in 2009. According to the Times Leader, Mayor Tom Leighton thought that connecting Morgan with the new home would be a fitting tribute.
"I didn't think for one second who I was going to name this for. I knew exactly who it was going to be for. It was going to be for David Morgan," Leighton said.
Charlie Morgan appreciated Leighton for recognizing his son. "Knowing Dave, he'd be really honored to do this and me and his mother, we just can't get over this," he said. "This is a great honor."
Earlier this week, city officials and members of Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania came together to inaugurate the David C. Morgan House. Once the home is fully complete, a veteran and their family will be able to move in. So far this year, the VOAPA has purchased 12 housing units all over the state as part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Homeward Bound program.
Leighton told the Citizens Voice that Wilkes-Barre has been doing its best to exceed the challenge established by President Barack Obama to end veteran homelessness through a Department of Housing and Urban Development initiative. So far, four city properties have been put to use. Some, like the home named for Morgan, were donated to the city after the bank foreclosed on them. However they are obtained, they are put to good use in housing homeless veterans.