BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 32 building in Melbourne has been in desperate need of repair. It was originally built in 1947, making it the oldest DAV building in Brevard County.

What You Need To Know

  • A beautification effort led by local Home Depot employees has transformed the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 32 building in Melbourne

  • There was rotted wood on the main building and storage sheds, and rusted metal and flood damage

  • The building housed the Eau Gallie Chamber of Commerce, a welcome center for visitors travelling along US 1

Veterans come from all over the county and from south Florida for free help with their benefits paperwork. But there’s rotted wood on the main building and storage sheds, and rusted metal and flood damage.

On Dec. 12, a beautification effort led by local Home Depot employees transformed the grounds, making it nice once again.

"There’s no words you can put on this — really no words — when you see it come together, there’s no words,” said Rodney Deflumeri, commander of DAV Chapter 32.

“How much they’ve given to serve our country, and for what we could do something as simple as making their Chapter 32 beautiful again, is amazing,” said Frank Branson, Melbourne Home Depot manager.

For a time, decades ago, this building housed the Eau Gallie Chamber of Commerce, a welcome center for visitors travelling along US 1.

Complete with a picnic area and the large orange, greeting visitors to a taste of old Florida.

Volunteers also gave the orange a fresh coat of paint.