meet our 2021 winner
Meet The Winner of Our 2021 Baths for the Brave Contest!
We’re thrilled to be able to share more with you about the winner of our 2021 Veteran Bathroom Giveaway Contest, Lamar Harrington. A Marine who served in the Vietnam War, Lamar was surprised with a check from Atlas Home Improvement’s own David Bobby, to cover the cost of a full bathroom renovation.
During their meeting, Lamar shared with David about his experience in Vietnam, where he participated in eight major skirmishes with the enemy from which he feels blessed to have made it out alive. Lamar also shared old newspaper clippings that extolled his bravery and leadership as well as the many commendations and awards he received for meritorious conduct under fire.
A Cause Close to Our Hearts
For both David and Darian Bobby, supporting the military is something that has always been important to them, thanks to their own brave family members who served. As a company, Atlas Home Improvement recognizes the importance of giving back to the community, donating to three charities monthly, one of which is an operation that specifically serves veterans.
David and Darian wanted to take their appreciation a step further by supporting local veterans, particularly those who are getting older or dealing with life-changing injuries from their military service.
David explains, “We came up with the idea of donating a new bathroom to a veteran in need since we specialize in aging-in-place products like new showers, walk-in jetted tubs and chairlifts.”
During their meeting, Lamar shared with David about his experience in Vietnam, where he participated in eight major skirmishes with the enemy from which he feels blessed to have made it out alive. Lamar also shared old newspaper clippings that extolled his bravery and leadership as well as the many commendations and awards he received for meritorious conduct under fire.
Many veterans have difficulty stepping over a bathtub threshold when getting in or out of the tub, leading to falls and potentially dangerous injuries, and an updated bathroom can help them stay safe while continuing to live independently. The Atlas Home Improvement team can pull out an old tub with a minimum stepover height of 14-17 inches and install a shower pan with a low entrance or even a barrier-free shower base that allows for wheelchair access.
For the giveaway, our team posted about the contest online, encouraging veterans to tell us why they should be chosen as the winner. After all was said and done, we received about 200 entries!
From there, we ended up selecting a few candidates to visit with and interview. When we met Lamar, we learned that he was experiencing great difficulty getting into and out of his bathtub. We instantly knew he would be a perfect choice to receive our free bathroom renovation. Although we wish we could have helped every single person who entered, we’re honored to be able to do our bit to give back in some way.
Making a Connection for Life
While David was excited to present Lamar with the check to cover the cost of the new bathroom, his favorite part of the day was just getting the opportunity to sit down and talk with the former Marine.
“It meant so much to hear about Lamar’s time as a Marine and to thank him in person for his service. I also had the chance to tell him about my father, Chief Petty Officer William J. Bobby, who served during WWII aboard the USS Holland, which was a submarine tender. While my father didn’t talk a lot about his wartime experiences, he shared one story with me, in particular, that has always made an impact on me. My Dad and his fellow sailors had to board ships tied up at a dock in San Francisco by climbing up huge rope ladders. My Dad told me that he had his duffel bag fully loaded and other equipment strapped over his shoulder and that it was difficult for him to make it up this very high and long ladder and he barely made it. I remember him sitting there and shaking his head at that memory when he told me and I thanked him for making it up onto the ship. If he had slipped and fallen, well… need I say more? Being able to share that story with Lamar and hear about his own experiences is something I’ll never forget.”
Atlas Home Improvement would like to extend a special thanks to all of the veterans in our community and around the country. We truly can’t thank you enough for your service and your sacrifices. We remain committed to continuing to give back as much as we can, as a small way of saying thank you. We are currently in the middle stages of planning another bath giveaway this year.
Finally, thank you to all of our customers who have made it possible for us to support our community and veterans like Lamar!
Chief Petty Officer
William J. Bobby
