October 14, 2012

They are the men and women who protect our country.

And a group of U.S. Marines is now taking on a different kind of a mission here at home.

They're serving the community by building a house.

Just off Mt. View Road in Antioch, a group of U.S. Marines has traded in their weapons for power tools.

"My Marines have been putting up siding, putting up blue insulation," says Staff Sgt. Roger Nelson.

About 20 Marines and future Marines from the Nashville recruiting station are helping to build a house with Habitat for Humanity.

It's part of a focused effort to a make a difference in the local community.

"Everyone sees the Marine Corps as combat, combat, combat and we want them to know there's more to the Marine Corps to that. We're out here to help the public and the community as well," says Staff Sgt. Nelson.

Several of the young people here are new recruits. Alexis Edmondson just signed her papers a few months ago.

"I'll be honored the day that I can call myself a Marine," says Alexis Edmondson.

Edmondson is a senior at Dickson County High School. She looks forward to carrying on her grandfather's legacy of serving her country.

"Glad that I will one day get to be a part of that, and I'm so proud to see other people that care about it," says Edmondson.

The Marines say serving the community helps build unit cohesion and raises morale.

The physical training required to serve in the military translates nicely to construction.

"Everything you do as a Marine you can apply to everyday life. It's good leadership and management skills, just the initiative to get out there and do something," says Sgt. Daniel Tidwell.

The Marines are glad to build a house for a fellow American. It's a home they may soon defend overseas.

"It makes us feel like we're giving back to the community that has done so much for us, and that has given so much to us," says Staff Sgt. Nelson.

Habitat for Humanity is in the process of building of several homes in Antioch as part of the Edison Park neighborhood.

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