With so many men and women sacrificing for our country here in Hampton Roads, it was an easy choice for Homearama builders Jimmy Richardson and Edward Hewitt to pay tribute to them with a showcase home at 2010 Fall Homearama Oct. 16-31 at Norfolk’s East Beach community.

Active duty and retired military can enjoy the home at a special discount on Military Appreciation Day on Monday, Oct. 18, when they can buy one, get one free admission by showing a valid military ID.
In addition, USO volunteers will be in each Homearama home on Oct. 18 to show their support.

Hewitt, who served in the Marines, and Richardson, the son of a Navy man, dedicated their home, A Tribute to the Armed Forces, to the men and women who sacrifice for their country.

“My dad was in the military, Eddie was in the military and it’s a military area,” said Richardson. “I feel we owe a lot to the people in the military and this is just one of the ways that we can shine a light on the people in the military by doing what we do.”

What can visitors expect?
“The goal is having the beach cottage feel like everything at East Beach,” said Hewitt, “with subtle hints of the Armed Forces added throughout the house.”

The builders also included tributes to the military throughout the house, such as a wood inlay in the foyer of a nautical star. “We hope to represent the different aspect of the military through flags, metals, uniforms and more,” said Scarlett.

The upstairs entertainment room features the most military memorabilia. The highlight of the room is the removable bar, which was custom built to resemble an airplane. The front of the bar is comprised of sheet metal and rivets to give it the feel of an airplane, while the top features memorabilia in the bar’s countertop, contributed by subcontractors and suppliers who worked in the home. The home also has shadow boxes from people in the military.

“There will be a lot of authentic memorabilia in the house, such as a flag that has flown in Iraq and uniforms that have been worn overseas,” said Richardson. When visitors walk through the home, Hewitt and Richardson hope they see how proud the men are of the Armed Forces.

“It’s really the reason we’re doing the house,” said Richardson. “I think people really are sacrificing a lot being in the military. Being away from my family really would be the hardest thing for me. I can’t imagine a family being torn apart by wars and going out for six- or nine-month deployments. We’re doing the house to show how proud we are of those in the Armed Forces.”

Homearama is open to the public Oct. 16-31, noon until 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in Norfolk’s East Beach. Ticket sales will stop one hour before closing.

General admission is $10 for a one-day pass and $17 for a two-day pass. Active duty and retired military guests and seniors (62 or better) get a $1 discount Monday-Thursday. A $1 discount coupon good for Monday-Thursday will be available at homearama.tv. Only one discount applies. No discounts Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Cox Communications customers who present a bill can purchase two tickets for the price on one on Tuesdays, Oct. 19 and Oct. 26. Children 12 and under and guests in wheelchairs are free.

Presenting sponsor is BB&T. Official sponsors are the city of Norfolk, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Dominion Virginia Power, Monarch Bank, JES, Phillips Automotive, Titan America, Virginia Natural Gas and TowneBank. Promotional co-sponsors are RSVP publications, Cox Communications and Pilot Media.

More information is available at www.homearama.tv or by calling (757) 420-2434.