Local mom dedicated to helping veterans gets home makeover

Lindenwold, NJ (WTXF) - A local mom has been dedicated to helping veterans after her son died in combat while serving in Iraq. For years she's devoted her time and services to others but Friday the community gave back to her.

Our Bill Anderson has the story.

Earlier this year, Anderson met New Jersey's Jacqueline Dixon as she attempted to deal with grief that most couldn't even imagine. The loss of her 20-year-old son Anthony who was killed while serving in Iraq.

"They said somebody was off in the distance and detonated the IED and he got killed instantly."

At the time of the meeting, she was motivated by her son's death. She had just opened a center to provide resources to veterans. That was then but now eight months later her service continues.

"If my son had come back from the war, I'm sure he would've needed some of the things that I'm giving to these veterans. Because he's not here I feel like I needed to give it to somebody to help them," she explained.

She constantly focuses on doing for others so it was incredible to see a team of workers at her home as Home Depot decided they would do something for her. Volunteers cut down trees, planted flowers, built a screened in porch and local restaurants fed everyone.

Her response to the makeover was actually a great reminder to all of us of the reasons why Home Depot thought this Gold Star mother she was a perfect person to receive it.

Today, Jacqueline Dixon stopped for just a minute to be celebrated, tomorrow she goes back to serving others and honoring the memory of her son. For Goodness Sake.