WHAT A TOMATO!

Hugh Andrew LeDure resides at the Veterans Home in Cape and considers it one big, happy, family. He has lived at the Veterans Home for two years now. The residents are allowed a garden spot on the premises, and with that freedom, LeDure said, "Look what the Lord and I have done."

The tomatoes represent the fruits of labor and play only a minor role in the whole picture. What LeDure intended to generate was encouragement.

"When individuals become residents here at the home, they often just quit," said LeDure.

LeDure's former residence was at 118 Monroe St. in Jackson.

According to LeDure, "you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy."

The "big boy" tomato that LeDure held in the photograph weighed in at 1 pound, 7 ounces. He'd grown a bigger one that weighed 2 pounds.

Pam Klaus, recreation activities director at the Veterans Home, said, "We try to offer as much opportunity as we can for residents to resume previous leisure activities."

The 12-x-12-foot garden plot on the ground is about half full. With many of the residents having difficulty getting back up once they get down to garden, the Eagle Scouts built some raised beds for the residents.

There are five of these, and LeDure raises jalapenos, tomatoes, roses and some other flowers in them. The residents also raise cucumbers, peppers and cantaloupe. This provides them with an opportunity to give back to their friends at the home who are unable to do this sort of thing, as well as the staff.

"It's their way of saying thanks," said Klaus.