Image Credit: Tunnel to Towers Foundation / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
A non-profit charitable organization showed their appreciation to one Clarksville soldier on Memorial Day by paying off his family’s mortgage after he lost his battle with cancer.
Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Harris passed away on July 7, 2022, after fighting Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Harris left behind his wife and three young children.
During his 25-year military career, Harris served as a combat engineer and pilot, including working as a Night Stalker, one of only a few pilots selected to fly Special Ops missions in total darkness. AML in people under the age of 65 has been linked to environmental exposure, specifically correlated with flight time.
After Harris’ death, the Tunnels to Towers Foundation contacted the family to offer to pay off the mortgage for their Clarksville home.
“I was in shock and disbelief. I prayed and thanked God for this blessing at such a horrible time in our lives. I imagined how Mike would react knowing this and just started uncontrollably crying. The domino effect of this blessing will span generations,” said wife Mandi Harris.
The timing of the payoff added to the specialness of the token of appreciation.
“Receiving the mortgage payoff in honor of Memorial Day is symbolic,” she stated. “Mike served 25 years, 11 months, and 1 day in the Army. He loved its county and all it stands for.”
The Tunnels to Towers Foundation was created after the 9/11 attacks to “do good.” The group helps to provide zero-mortgage homes to the families of fallen first responders with young children and to build smart homes for injured veterans.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
