As cleaning and restoration professionals, we have unique access to tools, trades, and technologies that allow us to take things deemed ruined, broken, or destroyed and breathe new life into them. In Eastern Michigan, one dedicated restorer has harnessed these capabilities to rekindle hope for veterans and their families nationwide.
In 2020, Brian made a significant career shift from marketing and started Paul Davis Restoration of East Michigan. One of the things he finds most fulfilling about the industry is the opportunity to bring hope to others when they desperately need it. Yet for Brian, his mission to restore hope didn’t stop there. He reflects, “I am always looking for credible intersections between genuine, real points of passion and what your company or brand does for people.” For Brian, it quickly became evident that this intersection was with military veterans.
Brian comes from a legacy of military veterans. His father served in Vietnam and passed away ten years ago due to his direct exposure to Agent Orange. Brian’s grandfather also proudly served in WWII. “My father and I were very close. I think about him every day.” Brian remembers. Understanding the close relationship Brian had with his father, his Paul Davis restoration team surprised him by restoring some of his father’s military accolades. Seeing these items restored to their former glory gave Brian a sense of closeness to his father.
Inspired by the profound impact of this gesture, Brian actively sought out avenues to help restore this sense of hope to other military families and veterans. Through a connection with a local military veteran who owned a restoration company, Brian was introduced to a veteran post in Plymouth, Michigan. The walls of their meeting space were covered in dozens of medals and personal effects that had been untouched for decades. After speaking to the group, it became evident that reviving these items held tremendous significance. And so, Restoring Valor came to be.
The Paul Davis Eastern Michigan team combined ultrasonic and direct hand cleaning to remove decades of built-up dust, dirt, and tarnishing. The outcome was remarkable, as the items not only looked as good as new but also left a profound impact on the veterans they were returned to.
One post member described the impact of seeing these items restored as having the opportunity to reconnect with their past accomplishments and the comrades they served alongside. Every restored item serves as a beacon of hope for veterans and their families, sparking conversations, evoking memories of their achievements, and offering a tangible link for loved ones to veterans who have since passed away.
As a cleaning or restoration professional, there are infinite ways to bring this hope to the surrounding community, whether through serving local veterans or finding another group with a need. As Brian puts it, the key to pinpointing this intersection is to evaluate what you’re passionate about and how your unique capabilities can impact those individuals.
If you are interested in getting involved with or supporting Restoring Valor, you can contact Brian at [email protected].
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