Category Archives: Our Local Heroes

Remembering Heroes All Year Long

Mary James, from HAYS Cleaning, Inc., presents checks to Jim Kruse. The funds will be used to purchase goods and ship boxes to troops overseas. Also pictured, Jim's granddaughter.
Mary James, from HAYS Cleaning, Inc., presents checks to Jim Kruse. The funds will be used to purchase goods and ship boxes to troops overseas. Also pictured, Jim’s granddaughter.

This past Veterans Day, HAYS Cleaning partnered with the St. Patricia Holy Name Society and local Adopt-a-Platoon member, Jim Kruse, to gather care package items for the troops. HAYS Cleaning customers and friends donated many bags of items, as well as cash donations to help purchase other items. 

While everyone seems to remember the troops during the Christmas season, Jim, and his group of volunteers, remembers them every month with regular shipments of care packages.

Read more here.

Our Family Heroes: Walter and Arthur James

Walter James
Walter James

In May 2010, Mary and Art James, owners of HAYS Cleaning, Inc., launched their “Helping Our Heroes” program to honor veterans and active military servicemen and women for the Memorial Day Holiday. For the past two-and-a-half years, HAYS has been privileged to provide complimentary cleanings for many fine men and women. At this time, I would like to honor each of them by sharing their photos and stories on individual blog posts.

Arthur James
Arthur James

It is fitting that I begin this project by honoring Art James, along with his father, Walter James, for their service to our country. I do not think it is a coincidence that the two men bear a striking resemblance to one another, after all, the father taught the son well about honor, duty and love of country. I am proud to know Art personally and wish that I could have known his dad.

Walter Martin James
Walter Martin James, 2010

Arthur James
Arthur James

Arthur James
Arthur James
veterans

Platoon 2 - Fort Leonard Wood Missouri, Feb. 27.1971
Platoon 2 – Fort Leonard Wood Missouri, Feb. 27.1971 – Art James is in first row, third from the right, holding the flag. He was made Platoon Leader because he was over 6 feet tall and his drill sargeant thought he “was ugly enough.”

Arthur James and Mary James
Arthur James and Mary James, 2011