Forrest Anderson Plumbing and Air Conditioning first organized a free A/C unit giveaway for veterans in 2016.

Audrey Monell, the company's president, said they surprised the winner’s wife at their home while her husband was away for active duty. After that experience, Monell knew it would be an annual event.

Now, Forrest Anderson Plumbing and Air Conditioning is gearing up to host its seventh annual Military Hero A/C giveaway, where they will gift one metro Phoenix veteran, retired servicemember or active-duty servicemember a free air conditioning unit along with a $500 cash gift card. 

Beginning Sept. 1, Forrest Anderson will be accepting military hero nominations through its website, according to its news release.  

Monell said she started the yearly giveaway in 2016 because she and other members of the company wanted to find a way to give back to the communities they live in.  

She chose veterans as she said she felt they are an undervalued population, and in part to honor her grandfather, Forrest Anderson, the family-owned company’s founder who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. 

“He was very proud to serve his country and he even did some of his service on the [U.S.S.] Arizona,” Monell said. 

The giveaway is very important to her personally, Monell said. She said she feels that despite political and religious differences that have divided the community, honoring military servicemen and women with the free unit was “one thing that everybody is able to come together on and agree it's a good thing.” 

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Monell recalled her experience doing the first giveaway in 2016.

“I really didn't understand the impact that this type of giveaway would have until she answered the door and just started crying,” Monell said. “They don't always feel appreciated in the community, and this small gesture brought her to tears, she was so grateful. I'll never forget the feeling going to her door.” 

Monell said after that experience, she knew she wanted the giveaway to be annual. The whole Forrest Anderson team looks forward to the two months a year they run the giveaway, Monell said. 

Nominations will be open until Sept. 28, at which point a Forrest Anderson staff panel will select up to five finalists. The nomination form requires a name, contact information and the city and state in which the nominee lives. Additionally, there is space to upload a photo of the nominee and explain how they served in the military.  

Then, voting will open to community members from Oct. 14-28 on the company’s website and Facebook page, where Forrest Anderson will share the finalists’ service stories. 

The free A/C unit also waives all installation fees and includes a $500 cash gift card, which is donated by Razor Thin Media President Cameron Davis, according to the news release. Forrest Anderson also partners with MORSCO HVAC/Bush Supply, who donates the A/C unit and sheet metal, and Smiley Crane Service, who provide the crane service if necessary to the installation, Monell said. 

“I feel so lucky that our company is in a position where, financially, we're able to do this,” Monell said. “We are very fortunate to have those people backing us so we can continue this every year.” 

Reach breaking news reporter Sam Burdette at sburdette@gannett.com or on Twitter @SuperSafetySam

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