Stores Honor Hometown Heros
All across the U.S., our Home Depot stores honor military veterans in a variety of ways. Recent stories out of Colorado, Georgia and Arizona show how our associates–many of whom serve in the military themselves–reach out to our veterans.
Colorado
When Jeremiah J., a three-time Purple Heart recipient, returned home from Iraq to Colorado Springs, Co., his local Home Depot Store 1518 showed appreciation by donating a riding lawn mower.
During his last tour overseas, Jeremiah’s ankle shattered when a grenade exploded only three feet away from him. Operation First Response, a charity organization dedicated to helping wounded soldiers and their families, contacted The Home Depot asking for assistance. Jeremiah was no longer capable of pushing his lawn mower due to his shattered ankle but still hoped to be self-sufficient. Assistant Manager Tristan Adams, Store Manager Chris Huston, District Manager Dave Liken and Human Resources Manager Kim Ardo immediately agreed to donate a riding mower, which they funded mostly through vendor support.
Tristan and several Store 1518 associates took the mower to Jeremiah’s house to surprise him. As The Home Depot truck approached the house, the associates honked the horn as the gathering crowd clapped their hands. The soldier was stunned when Tristan stepped out of the truck and announced the special delivery.
“I can honestly say that The Home Depot is a Company that I am proud to be a part of. In today’s economy, there are few organizations that would have the finances to reach out to a family like this, but even fewer that would have the heart,” Tristan said.
Georgia
Associates at Store 1773 in Cordele, Ga., also showed The Home Depot’s heart in a Team Depot project for veterans.
Team Depot, Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, got involved when officials from SAM Shortline, a vintage train operated by the state of Georgia, approached Store 1773 for a few plant donations for the barren campsites at the Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park. Store Manager Jim King volunteered to rebuild some of the campsites, courtesy of Team Depot.
Thirty associates from Store 1773 pitched in, building a patio, fireplace and fence, as well as landscaping the area. “It was so empty. We wanted to make it feel homier,” Associate Coordinator, Elaine said. “We really wanted to give back to the community because they have given us so much.”
Everyone from the park was extremely grateful to The Home Depot for creating a beautiful space for people who come to honor veterans. “The community spirit and involvement The Home Depot showed was beyond words. We saw and were inspired by the power of Home Depot firsthand,” said Marybeth Kelly, a board member of SAM Shortline.
Arizona
Home Depot Store 424 in Peoria, Ariz., honored local military customers by hosting an Armed Forces recognition event led by Store Manager Justin Carro.
Nine associates who served in the military presented nine military customers each with a plaque and an air conditioner to keep them cool in these hot summer months and to show our appreciation for their business and their service.
The event attracted veterans, active military and even some former POWs. The families of two fallen soldiers attended the event and gave Store 424 a heartfelt thank you for honoring their loved ones.
Comments
I love reading stories like these that touch your heart! Thanks for sharing!
It is very important to share these stories so all Home Depot associates can appreciate the efforts of these great people!!Keep up the great work! Go Orange!!
Thank you so much for helping! Our military men and women often come home unable to get back to a normal life because of injuries sustained and I love to see it when they get blessed!
as a retired military officer and a pro sales associate, i am proud to be associated with a company like hd…thanks from myself and all other military active duty and retired
I would like to share a story both sad and good. My husband died exactly one year ago of metastisized lung cancer at age 81. I saw a sign in the hospital free cancer screening for people over 60 that smoked. I went for the test and got diagnosed with breast cancer. I am know going for chemo. I shared my story with 12 ladies from my do it herself workshop and 2 went for the test and were diagnosed with breast cancer. I want to thank my store manager and all of the employees of Home Depot for their awsome support to help me thru my crisis. I am with the company 14 years and I have probably raised more money for the employees in this store. I won the giving back award in 2000 and had brain surgery a year later. Giving back pays off as now I am a receiver of all the good that is out there. Thankyou Lou Gaglio and all of the employees of Home Depot
I think that what 1518 did was wonderful. I worked at that store breifly when i moved back to colorado and know that all the associates and managers are great people. Good Job Guys.
All the stores that give honor to our Veterans in these hard times are really giving there heart felt efforts and really need to be acknowledgeg. I just saw my soon to be 22 year old grandson leave on Saturday to return to Iraq and when I heard that 4 soldiers got killed today my heart sank to find out that 3 were killed in North Iraq where he is. We must keep all of our veterans and their families in prayer all the time.
It is truely a great thing to be part of a company that really cares about the communties it serves. To donate so much time to helping our friends in the armed forces, both active, and retired. This is truely a wonderful company, and I am so proud to be part of it.
Coming from a military family it touches my heart and makes me proud to work for a company that does so much for active, reserve and retired military service men and women.
My name is Jessica, and I am store 424. I wanted to give Kudos to all the above mentioned stores but I also wanted to say thank you to our Tool Rental Department for really going the extra mile to make those plaques. Many of our associates were in the military and our managers really try to go out of their way for our veterans. I am really happy to work for a company that shares my values.