Non-profit plans to line up vets with time-shares

A non-profit in Colfax is claiming to be giving away free time-share packages to returning veterans around the U.S.

“I felt strongly that one of the best things we can do is put the families together in a quiet place away from the military organization,” said Gary Martin, director of the Honor Them Foundation.

Martin declined to release contact information for the four soldiers who have already booked a package, saying this is a private time for them and their families. He also declined to release names of companies donating the time shares.

One family receiving a package is an army staff sergeant from Kentucky, who just returned from Afghanistan, Martin said. He may be sent to Disneyworld, Florida, with his family.

Another, an Air Force sergeant from Dallas, Texas, just returned from his third deployments. He and his family may be booked for a vacation in southern California.

Martin, 63, served in the Air Force for three years during the Vietnam War. He was active in the war for six months as an air medic flying out the wounded.

His enlistment ended in 1968.

Martin said he has been working in the time-share business for about 20 years.

He and his wife Kathe recently moved to Colfax from Orem, Utah. He was in Utah for a year working for Midtown Village, a time-share community project.

Martin said he discovered from his work in the time-share industry that owners and companies often have weeks of unused time on their time-shares.