Baker's house project nears completion

Mission almost accomplished on the Baker home makeover.

About $22,000 has been raised for the family of the late Medal of Honor recipient Vernon Baker for last week's funeral expenses and repairs of its home near St. Maries.

"I think that this is a great response of the United States to take care of one of its heroes," said John Dunlap, commander of American Legion Post 143 in Post Falls who is coordinating the donation drive with the Idaho National Guard. "The help has not just been from locals. Checks have come in from Florida, New York, Boston, Texas ... all over."

Baker, who was the last surviving African-American Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, died in July at 90 after a six-year battle with cancer. His burial was at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday.

The roof and porch repairs are complete at the home of Baker's widow, Heidy, and Sheetrock work inside should be completed this week, Dunlap said.

"There was a lot of water damage to the home, and the roof and porch were falling apart," he said.

The drainage will be repaired on Saturday and a wood storage shed will be built.

"The project should be finished up in about a week," Dunlap said.

Assistance has been widespread.

The St. Maries American Legion donated 25 yards of gravel and the equipment for the drainage project. ElderHelp of North Idaho donated 10 cords of wood. Hot Rod for Heroes donated the family's ground transportation in Washington. The Knights of Columbus paid for the hotel stays in the nation's capital. And a crew from Walmart volunteered to clean the home after the repairs.

U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, donated his frequent flyer miles to Heidy, her daughter, Alexandra Tawlik, and Tawlik's 10-year-old son, Vernon, to attend the burial.

Dunlap said, with the current donations, it appears that there will be about $1,500 left over after the project. If that's the case, a statue in Baker's honor may be built in St. Maries.

Tax-deductible donations can still be made to an account in Heidy's name at any American West Bank in North Idaho through next week, Dunlap said.

The National Guard had hoped to have the home repairs done before Baker died, but fundraising slowed.

For more information on the fundraising efforts, call Dunlap at 773-9054.

"This has made a comfortable place for (Heidy) to live for awhile, and that's what it's all about," Dunlap said.