WEST BEND, Wis. — A U.S. National Guard veteran was surprised with a donation of holiday lights for him and his family to enjoy.
For over a decade, Swimming Pool Services has been decorating the homes of deserving veterans for the holidays. This year, Christopher Bagwell was nominated and chosen as one of the recipients.
Bagwell served for nearly two decades in both the Wisconsin National Guard and Georgia National Guard. He was deployed overseas and said things weren’t always easy once he got home.
“There was some trauma that came from that every once in a while,” Bagwell said.
Bagwell had a job as a trucker but lost that job in 2019. His family fell on hard times, and he had to sell his truck to make ends meet. Since then, he’s been working hard to provide for his family in different ways, all while dealing with PTSD from war.
“I literally hit a wall,” Bagwell said. “It was tough on me and my family. We were already struggling because I had breakdowns, and I was doing all of this from my retirement, or what was left of it. Just trying to survive, just trying to keep the house, really.”
He said a surprise such as donated Christmas lights from a local company couldn’t have come at a better time.
“My wife and kids are who I have done everything for,” he said. “I want to give them the best, and to see that the community feels the same way. I am holding back the tears.”
He said he was emotional watching the team of two put up the red, white and blue lights on his home. He said it’s special to be honored for his service.
“This is like my coming home that I didn’t get,” he said.
It was an equally special feeling for service technician Matthew Panella, who helped string lights.
Panella is also a veteran. He served six years in the Navy. He said it feels good to give back to a fellow veteran.
“Just knowing how much he’s given, being able to do something to make his life a little easier and relieve some stress and the worry of him having to do this for his family,” Panella said.
Bagwell said his two kids are thrilled to have the house decorated for Christmas. He said this holiday season will be a special one, thanks to a community who cares.