Community Hero Becomes a Lucky Winner

By Adam Cabrera. 

In a display of community support, Navy veteran Chris Waterfield received a new roof in recognition of his military service and ongoing dedication to his fellow veterans. 

Chris Waterfield served aboard the aircraft carrier the USS America for eight years in the 1980s. Now he devotes his time to aiding disabled veterans at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital by helping them reach their doctor's appointments.  

However, when recent storms raised concerns about the state of Chris's roof, he was relieved to find himself the recipient of Fortified Roofing's charitable initiative.  

Megan Herzing, co-owner of Fortified Roofing, noted that Chris's application stood out from the others. "Chris was our lucky winner," Megan told KOMU, "He wrote an amazing letter that touched everyone in our company's hearts. And he was the unanimous winner." 

The gift is a part of the Owens Corning Roof Development Project, an event Fortified Roofing and Siding, a local Columbia-based company, does annually to help support veterans. Through their collaboration with Purple Heart Homes and Owens Corning, a roofing material manufacturer, they were able to do the project free of charge.  

The new roof was installed on a Friday, with crews completing the project within the day. "I'm one lucky veteran for getting a free roof," Chris said. "When Megan called me and told me I won a roof, I was like, 'Not me. I don't win anything.'" 

While his service to his community remains ongoing, he says he never anticipated anything in return. "We leave our families behind, the communities we live in, and we go to serve our country, and we have to make families with other men and women we serve with. And we rely on them as much as they rely on us to take care of each other," he said. 

Megan shared plans to expand their initiative, intending to increase the number of free roofing projects from one per year to up to three. She emphasized the company's commitment to veterans, influenced by her father's own experience serving in the Marine Corps.  

“Veterans are always near and dear to his heart," Megan said. "But two, partnering with a manufacturer that truly cares about the customers that we care about. They're able to support us in that mission." 

Applications for next year's project are already open on the Fortified Roofing website, with the company encouraging veterans to share their stories for a chance to qualify. The winner will be announced around Veterans Day, as a tribute to those who have served. 

Do you know of someone in the industry who is ‘doing good deeds’ in their community? Help us catch them at it. Send news and information to info@rooferscoffeeshop.com.  

Photo source: KOMU 

About Adam 

Adam Cabrera is Writer and Podcast Producer at RoofersCoffeeShop®. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado Denver and holds a degree in music performance with a minor in philosophy. When he isn't writing about roofs he enjoys camping in the Rocky Mountains, going to concerts and playing music.