Vet gets back car, freedom
By Abigail Allen
Managing Editor
A veteran who served in the Air Force from 1972 to 1987 has more of his freedom back.
Von Scaff, who works at the O’Reilly Auto Parts in Pilot Point, was without his Ford Explorer for about two years.
“It means a lot,” he said. “I can’t thank these guys enough, what they did for me.”
Scaff has experienced health issues that rendered him unable to do the heavy lifting of car repair himself.
“It made me feel bad that I couldn’t get in there and help, because I used to do this stuff myself and I can’t do it anymore,” he said.
That’s where the McEvoys came in.
Amy McEvoy, who works with Scaff as a medical professional, listened to his plight about being without a vehicle.
“The person who agreed to help him originally didn’t follow through,” she said.
The components of the car were strewn about a shop in Lewisville.
Amy’s father served in the military as well, and he died in December. Amy wanted to honor him with the work, too.
She turned to her husband, Paul McEvoy, and asked him whether he thought they could help, and he said absolutely.
Paul, a diesel mechanic by trade, had the help of son Tristan McEvoy.
Trista, who served as a diesel mechanic in the Army for three years and is still a member of the Reserves, recently returned home. Paul saw it as a way to help Tristan reintegrate into the civilian world while serving a fellow veteran.
“It makes me happy to be able to give back, and he’s got reliable transportation to get back and forth to and from work from home,” Paul said.
Scaff knows the value of that, he said.
“It felt good that he had something to do to get his hand back into civilian life,” he said.
Having his Explorer, complete with a Ford medallion with an American flag background, means so much to Scaff.
He would borrow his daughter’s vehicle when he didn’t have his own, which meant he had to coordinate with her, and it added stress for both of them.
“I like to be able to go when I want to go,” he said. “… I can walk out, get in my truck and go where I’ve got to go.”
The project and the friendship will continue, Scaff, Paul and Amy said.
Scaff and Paul chatted about the vehicle and a couple of things Scaff has noticed about the car.
In addition to the bonds they have formed with Scaff, Paul said, the most important aspect was being able to give back to someone who served in the military.
“It would be nice to see if more people could step up and take on some simple tasks for our older generation that had served many years in the military,” Paul said.
For Scaff, the message is simple.
“There are still good people in the world,” he said.
