Purple Heart Homes celebrates veteran with new path to independent living
For Purple Heart Homes, a new home is being built in Glasgow, Virginia, representing more than just a house. It represents a return to the organization’s original mission: helping veterans transition into independent living.
James “Jim” Taylor, a 76-year-old Marine Corps veteran who served from 1969 to 1971, has been selected as the veteran recipient of the modular home being built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. Purple Heart Homes used a nomination and review process to select a Veteran who would receive the home.
Purple Heart Homes, founded and headquartered in Statesville, has supported veterans across the country, including Puerto Rico, since its founding. The organization has partnered with Fifth Street Ministries in Statesville since 2016 to help veterans work toward greater independence.
Fifth Street Ministries is a Statesville-based nonprofit that serves individuals and families experiencing homelessness, housing instability, domestic violence and other crises in Iredell County. Through the partnership, the organizations created a housing pathway for veterans experiencing homelessness.
Now, that mission is coming full circle.
“This is a 10-year full circle to show the original intent of the transitional program is to help veterans go back to individual living,” said Paul Cockerham, a Purple Heart Homes development member who has been involved with the organization since the start in 2008.
Taylor, served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps, achieving the rank of corporal. While stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California, he worked as an Electronic Accounting Machine Operator and received the National Defense Service Medal and Rifle Marksman Badge.
Originally born in New York, Taylor has lived in North Carolina for about a decade. His path to Statesville began after moving from Alexandria, VA to be closer to his three children and grandchildren in North Carolina. He became involved with Fifth Street Ministries and eventually began volunteering there.
“I honestly don’t know how I got involved with Fifth Street,” said Taylor. “Moving to Statesville was a big part of it, but I am not sure if they adopted me or I adopted them.”
Taylor currently participates in Fifth Street Ministries’ Veteran transitional housing program and has spent the past three years volunteering wherever he is needed, particularly in the kitchen. Fifth Street serves dinner to about 65 people each day, and Taylor regularly helps prepare meals and clean up. His transition into a Purple Heart Homes modular home marks another step toward greater independence and permanent housing.
“We just do what we need to do,” said Taylor, talking about his work in the kitchen. Taylor showed off the kitchen and his work, stating how keeping the area clean and working with others is where his eagerness to work lies.
In 2022, Purple Heart Homes partnered with Fifth Street Ministries and the Piedmont Veterans Assistance Council to provide two transitional modular homes for veterans. Built by Purple Heart Homes, the homes were moved to the Fifth Street campus in January 2022 to support veterans experiencing homelessness as they work toward greater independence.
Purple Heart Homes donated the first two homes, with four additional transitional modular homes completed in 2024. The project was funded by The Home Depot Foundation, the State of North Carolina and community partners.
Taylor is a recipient of services from Fifth Street Ministries and Purple Heart Homes. He went through the organization’s program as he worked towards greater independence and now lives in one of the six veteran transitional homes. His current home is just over 300 square feet, with space for a living and dining area, bathroom and bedroom. After living there for just under two years, he has made the small space his own, decorating it and creating a sense of him.
The new home will provide considerably more space—about 50% larger than his current home. Purple Heart Homes will construct Taylor’s modular home on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., beginning September 27. The build will take place near Madison Drive and Seventh Street and is scheduled to conclude October 5. As a former builder who built modular homes and worked in construction, Taylor said he is particularly interested in learning how the new home is being constructed.
The significance of the new home goes beyond its size. Taylor said becoming a homeowner will provide a sense of root, comfort and stability. “It will be my own home that I get to come to every night, and it’s a sense of comfort and stability,” he said.
Purple Heart Home representatives recently shared the news that he had been selected to receive the home and property in Glasgow.
“You were chosen and selected. We chose you because of who you are. We are proud,” John Gallina, co-founder and CEO of Purple Heart Homes, told Taylor.
The organization also emphasized that the project is about recognizing his military service while continuing a larger mission of serving veterans. Fifth Street Ministries also announced on Wednesday that it will add five new beds dedicated to Veterans beginning in October, increasing its total Veteran housing capacity to 25. .
“We are proud of you and your service,” said Todd Fowler, Director of Philanthropy at Fifth Street Ministries.
Cockerham said the project is particularly meaningful because of how visible it will be, connecting the veteran’s journey from the Washington, D.C., area to Statesville and eventually to Glasgow. The Home Depot Foundation is serving as Cornerstone Partner for the build, contributing a $250,000 grant as part of its 14-year partnership with Purple Heart Homes.
“We are doing this to celebrate you, but we are doing this because this is a highly visible thing from D.C. to Glasgow,” Cockerham said.
For Purple Heart Homes, the celebration will honor one veteran while demonstrating what can happen when organizations and communities come together to help veterans build independent lives.
And for the veteran receiving the home, it will mark the beginning of a new chapter—one that comes with a front door, a place to call his own and a renewed sense of stability.
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