thedrifter
05-04-06, 05:18 AM
For both, a job well done
May 4, 2006
Adam Zeller arrived at the O'Leary house in St. James on Tuesday morning to install an additional outlet in the family's central vacuum system. He estimated the job would cost $150.
That was before Zeller discovered Brian O'Leary was a veteran of Iraq.
When Zeller, who owns Metro Vacuum Inc. in Kings Park, entered the home and walked through the foyer, he passed an American flag and a Marine Corps flag hanging on the wall.
When O'Leary took him to the basement, Zeller noticed military gear lying around.
The job took 45 minutes. Then they went up to the kitchen and O'Leary started writing the check.
"It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be; you can only give me $90," Zeller said, according to Mary O'Leary, Brian's wife.
As Zeller made his way back to his truck, he noticed stickers on the back of O'Leary's Jeep reading "Semper Fi" and "USMC."
Zeller rang the doorbell again. O'Leary had gone upstairs.
"Is your husband a Marine?" Zeller asked Mary, who was home with one of the couple's three children.
"Did he fight in Iraq?"
Brian O'Leary heard the installer from the top of the stairs and said yes.
A major in the U.S. Marine Corps, Brian O'Leary, 40, served in Iraq from March to August 2003.
Zeller lay the check at the bottom of the staircase.
"Well, then, this one's on me," he said. "Thank you."
Ellie
May 4, 2006
Adam Zeller arrived at the O'Leary house in St. James on Tuesday morning to install an additional outlet in the family's central vacuum system. He estimated the job would cost $150.
That was before Zeller discovered Brian O'Leary was a veteran of Iraq.
When Zeller, who owns Metro Vacuum Inc. in Kings Park, entered the home and walked through the foyer, he passed an American flag and a Marine Corps flag hanging on the wall.
When O'Leary took him to the basement, Zeller noticed military gear lying around.
The job took 45 minutes. Then they went up to the kitchen and O'Leary started writing the check.
"It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be; you can only give me $90," Zeller said, according to Mary O'Leary, Brian's wife.
As Zeller made his way back to his truck, he noticed stickers on the back of O'Leary's Jeep reading "Semper Fi" and "USMC."
Zeller rang the doorbell again. O'Leary had gone upstairs.
"Is your husband a Marine?" Zeller asked Mary, who was home with one of the couple's three children.
"Did he fight in Iraq?"
Brian O'Leary heard the installer from the top of the stairs and said yes.
A major in the U.S. Marine Corps, Brian O'Leary, 40, served in Iraq from March to August 2003.
Zeller lay the check at the bottom of the staircase.
"Well, then, this one's on me," he said. "Thank you."
Ellie