WILLIAMSTOWN, Kentucky - The sound of table saws, nail guns and sandpaper will be the new standard outside the gates of Northern Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Williamstown. Photographing veterans has been a longtime dream for Joe Montgomery, who saw woodworking as a way to solve life's problems by rebuilding friendships.
"My dad and my uncles (the reason I started it) and it's like my brother's dedication, it's kind of dedication," Montgomery said during a recent visit.
Although his father and uncles both served in the military, Joe never did. But that did not stop him from serving them. Before building his final home in Veterans Landing, he housed veterans in various places, from the Halloween Express in Florence to his own workshop.
Finishing work is underway at the Veterans Inn, a private Veterans Inn based on a trust in Grant County.
"At this facility, I receive a lot of volunteers, and I'm constantly approached by veterans who want to volunteer," Montgomery said. "I've had civilians talk to me and say, 'I'm not a veteran, can I come down and paint?' Can I clean? Can I do this or do that? We say, "Yes, you can."
Retired Marine Colonel Patrick Kanyoc, director of the Veterans Advisory Committee, said the workshop is a safe haven for veterans.
"The veterans, a lot of them have a story about why they're there," Kanyuki said. "They can come and talk about this freely. We joke about things and it heals them in the sense that they can release what they have stored inside."
Another component is the partnership with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) based in Erlangen.
"Our relationship with DAV is important to talk about helping veterans from the ground up because when we have a veteran asking for their benefits or we're not sure if they need it or if they need it, send we get them there," Montgomery said. .
In the workshop, veterans make everything from the caskets sold at Arlington National Cemetery to flag-like crosses, wooden American flags with brass powder stars and more.
Then there is the custom carpentry, which anyone can order, from raw sofas to custom tables.
"Personally, it gives me a sense of peace — just doing anything with wood, any kind of woodwork," Coast Guard veteran Taylor Thibodeau said, trying to do what I can.
There is a showroom in front of the facility where many items are for sale. Montgomery said they already have tour groups connected to nearby Ark Encounters and expect more to come. Your national crosses are already available at the Ark gift shop.
Montgomery said she hopes their mission will continue to grow and impact veterans and veterans in the community as word gets out.
"We're working on a Congressional Medallion, which is a school program," Montgomery said. "We want to do an academic program for local school kids, but we want to integrate it with some of the veterans we work with."
Montgomery said she saw changes in her veterans while working on various projects. This is the shift behind Veterans Landing's religious mission.
"We call them for a purpose, you know, and that's it," he said.
Landing Veterans will officially cut the ribbon on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. Visit their website to learn more about their mission.
If you have a veteran's story to tell in your community, email homefront@wcpo.com. You can also join the Homefront Facebook group, follow Craig McKee on Facebook and find more Homefront stories here.
