On Veterans Day, Kutztown Car Wash and Kutztown High School National Honor Society students gave back with a Grace For Vets free car wash to veterans and service personnel from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Paul and Jamie Noon, owners of Kutztown Car Wash, worked alongside the NHS students to offer washing, drying and vacuuming services.
“This is unbelievable,” said Gene Miller, a U.S. Army veteran and Kutztown resident. “Within the last five years, the veterans have been appreciated so much more than 10 years ago or more.”
Miller has been coming to the free car wash event for three years.
“It’s great that they do this. Veterans were nothing before five years ago, and now if I go somewhere wearing my hat, people thank me for my service and shake my hand. Things have really been changing.”
Joe Marra, a veteran of the Air Force who served four years in Vietnam, was impressed by the efforts of the community to help veterans.
“It’s so great that they do this,” he said. “I think especially now, with ISIS and everything going on, people are finally realizing they need to give back.”
Kutztown Car Wash owners, Paul and Jamie Noon, started participating in Grace For Vets five years ago.
“It’s an International program,” said Jamie. “We were at a car wash convention, and they were promoting it. We decided we’d like to participate.”
Jamie’s father was a veteran, and she had uncles who served in World War II.
“I was surprised how moving of a day it was the first year,” she said. “It really is, because people come and tell you their stories, and it’s just very moving.”
The first year the Kutztown Car Wash participated, the Noons’ son was a National Honor Society student.
“He was here helping, but we realized we needed more help,” said Jamie. “At first we were letting people wash their own cars for free, but we decided there were a lot of older veterans who needed help, so we started washing the cars for them.”
With more work to be done, the Noons called on the Kutztown High School NHS students to help them with the task.
In their fourth year helping with Grace For Vets, the NHS students took two-hour shifts at the car wash.
Scott Entriken, a senior and one of the chairs of the event, was pleased with the turnout.
“It’s been pretty good so far,” he said. “We are keeping a tally sheet, and we’ve washed about 12 cars so far. I think it’s a good thing to do, and it’s enjoyable to learn about the veterans.”
Emily Reiss, also a senior NHS member, was excited about interacting with the veterans.
“I really like talking to all the veterans because I like people, but I also just like hearing their stories,” she said.
The NHS students will earn service hours for their participation.
For those who weren’t able to attend Grace For Vets at Kutztown Car Wash this year, Jamie assures them that the event will continue each year.
“This has been very worthwhile,” she said. “We plan on continuing to participate each year, so for those who weren’t able to make it, we want them to know we will be here next year to wash their cars for free.”
