Volunteer Veteran Brings Civil Engineering and Creativity to the Job
July 6, 2016
People who are blessed to know and work with volunteer veteran Ed Meredith agree that an incredible depth of experience, ingenuity, and faith reside behind his quiet demeanor. He volunteers at Water Mission’s headquarters every Wednesday as our resident expert in the assembly of chlorinators. His desire is simply to serve where God needs him.
Tell us about your background and profession. Born in Washington, DC, in 1930, after attending the University of Maryland and graduating with a civil engineering degree, I served for two years in the Korean War as an Air Force electrician. Returning to civilian life, I accepted a position with the U.S. Geological Survey to work in the surface water division in the Dover, DE, office. My responsibilities included measuring water flow which required me to wade into frigid streams during the mid-Atlantic winters. I eventually transferred to Ocala, FL, and remained there until the early 1960’s. I began working with the Army Corp of Engineers doing feasibility studies for the authorization and construction of water projects and retired in 1985. One of the major projects I was involved with was the economic feasibility study for the re-diversion of the Santee River back to its original channel.
Where did you develop a love for serving or volunteering? As a young adult, I took an evening course offered by my high school. There were a number of men in the class who practiced their craft hobbies in a nearby wood shop. One evening, a few of us crossed paths with a woman who wanted to build a house but didn’t have the resources to buy the materials. Several of the “busy” men dropped their projects and immediately joined in her construction adventure, and it struck me how enthusiastic the senior men were when they had a worthwhile project to work on. That impression stuck with me over the years and now that I am a senior with time to be of service, I want to experience the same kind of joy those men had.
You're obviously very creative and love to work with your hands. Where did you first learn to love this? We can all relate to that one special teacher in our lives that made a lasting impact on us. When I was in third grade, my teacher brought some crate wood and a hand saw to class. She had a pattern of a small Dutch boy for us to cut out, paint, and put up on hooks as Christmas presents for our mothers. My teacher praised me for my work. I didn’t deserve or get praise for my regular studies. Unknowingly, she had just given me direction for my future: designing and crafting things.
Recently at Water Mission, after working with a new version of the erosion chlorinator, I noticed that in order for our volunteers to properly align and assemble the components, we needed an alignment line on a part. I designed a scribe with a praying child handle to use in the office. Water Mission volunteers pray over the components of our system as they are being assembled. The scribe is useful and symbolic of how we pray over everything, even the smallest of tasks.
What types of things do you create at home? I have spent many hours working in my wood shop making things for my friends and family. One of the high honors I received came one Christmas when I designed and built a Barbie playhouse for my twin step-granddaughters who live in Cincinnati, OH. In July I’m hosting my bridge group; each table place setting will have a wooden character to match each of their individual personalities. It’s going to be fun seeing them attempt to make the match I had in mind!
What keeps you coming back to Water Mission week after week? I first met the Greenes when Molly and George were attending St. Philips church in downtown Charleston in the early 2000’s. Since then, I’ve been passionate about their ministry. I get to create and make things every week alongside mission-directed volunteers. When I manage to assemble three chlorinators in a day, I go home knowing that I have touched the lives of up to 15,000 people by giving them potable water to drink.
Water Mission is doing a great service for the retired community. There are so many retirees who still desire to be productive in very meaningful ways. We have the opportunity to use our skills while also making an impact around the world. It keeps me young… and gives me a great sense of self-esteem.
Learn more about volunteer opportunities at our North Charleston, SC headquarters. VOLUNTEER
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