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Veterans Day 2019: Operation Surprise Salutes Veterans

November 11, 2019

Recognition. Celebrations. Service. Giving back is our mission to serve veterans. 

Veterans Day, the holiday set aside to honor America’s armed services veterans, is here. Serving these heroes has been front and center during the ninth annual Celebration of Service.  

Since September 15, The Home Depot Foundation and Team Depot traded their signature orange for military green to honor the brother and sisters in arms who’ve sacrificed for the nation. Across the country, volunteers completed projects and accumulated more than 100,000 service hours. 

Operation Surprise was this year’s theme and veterans were celebrated with life-changing surprises. Among those honored, was a U.S. Marine Corps and double amputee veteran. He was joined at the start of a charity race in New York City by his former commanding officer. Additionally, veterans were recognized at NFL games and concert arenas for their sacrifice. 

“I am proud of The Home Depot’s emphasis and support of veterans. I think it’s wonderful that we recognize the sacrifice all our service men and women have made,” says Paul Rolich, a veteran who is a distinguished engineer with corporate systems. “I am glad to be a part of a company that celebrates our veterans.” The Home Depot employs 35,000 veterans throughout the organization. 

Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has improved more than 45,000 veteran homes and invested more than $315 million in veteran causes, putting the organization on track to meeting the commitment of half-a-billion dollars by 2025.