NH police department helps out veteran when heat breaks on freezing night

SEABROOK, N.H. — The Seabrook New Hampshire Police Department went above and beyond to help a World War II veteran in need when the heating system broke in his home on a freezing night.

“It was freezing, it was 4 or 6 degrees out that day,” said Officer John Giarrusso.

Officer Giarrusso got the call to check on a man in Seabrook who had no heat in his home on one of the coldest days this winter, a few weeks ago.

“[A] 95-year-old World War II vet shouldn’t be freezing in his own house,” Giarrusso said.

The officer added that the heating system at that vet’s house had failed the night before. So when they got to his house, the temperature was already below 30 degrees.

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“It was very cold that morning, he said he was without heat, asking for some help,” Giarrusso said. “So we went to check on him, he was freezing in his own house. He was all bundled up.”

Police tried to get the heat fixed that day but couldn’t. They brought the veteran to a nearby Dunkin’ for food and a hot coffee before checking him into a nearby hotel for the night.

“The union paid for the hotel room, our treasurer called and set that up right away,” Giarrusso said.

A police officer going above and beyond the call of duty to help the veteran, Giarrusso said it was the least they could do for someone who risked his life for this country.

“Greatest generation World War II vets, you hear that phrase a lot and don’t have a lot of opportunities to meet those guys and talk with them,” Giarrusso said.

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