Honoring a Veteran with New Windows and Doors

A community comes together to honor a veteran family with a home transformation

A strong community can change lives. When neighbors, local businesses, and community organizations come together to lift each other up, the results are truly remarkable—something that can be seen firsthand when communities rally around the veterans who sacrificed so much.

Recently, the team at Renewal by Andersen of Greater Pittsburgh Summit Region had the incredible opportunity to give back to a local hero. We teamed up with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Folds of Honor to gift the Essary family a complete home upgrade, featuring 14 beautiful new windows, a stunning patio door, and a secure entry door.

We love installing beautiful windows, but this project was about so much more than glass and frames. It was about showing a deserving family that their community sees them, appreciates them, and wants to give back.

The Essary Family: A Story of Service and Resilience

Bill Essary is a man who understands sacrifice. He joined the Army just before the events of September 11, 2001, and deployed to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper. He spent a year serving in a remote and active combat zone, returning fire during base attacks and keeping his fellow soldiers safe. He made it home safely, but his life changed forever shortly after his return.

While on a post cleanup detail at Fort Bragg, a civilian truck struck Bill. The accident left him with severe injuries, including a broken back, a broken neck, and a badly damaged leg. After weeks of battling a terrible infection, doctors had to amputate his leg.

He still remembers when the doctor told him they needed to amputate. “They said, ‘We can take it in a half an hour or we can take it in four hours, it's up to you.’ And I said, ‘Well, that’s three and a half hours faster that I can walk.’ And the rest is history.”

Over 11 months of grueling recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, he had to learn how to walk all over again. Even so, Bill never lost his spirit or his positive attitude.

His wife, Trish, stood by his side every step of the way, providing the love and support he needed to push forward. “That's how I got through it – the support system, family, my parents, her parents, brothers. And then you know, just having her [Trish], it makes a big difference, friends and family that are around, it makes a huge difference in your recovery.”

Today, Bill continues to serve his fellow veterans by working at the local Department of Veterans Affairs. He volunteers with numerous veteran charities, always looking for ways to give back. He and Trish have raised two brilliant children. Their daughter, Haley, is actively training to become a pilot, fulfilling a dream Bill has held since childhood. Their son, Hunter, studies aerospace engineering at Penn State. “He’s in some of their hardest academia that they offer, and he's smoking it,” says Essary about his son. “The kid's gonna do something. I don't know if he'll change the world or maybe he'll be able to engineer a whole new one.”

But like many hardworking homeowners, the Essarys faced a few frustrating challenges around the house. Their old windows were drafty, moldy, and difficult to open. The seals had failed, leaving frosted condensation trapped between the glass panes. The family constantly battled the heat transferring through inefficient glass. Their sliding patio door was another major headache. Bill loves to barbecue, but wrestling with a heavy, sticky door while holding a tray of ribs is nobody's idea of a good time. They needed a lasting solution to make their home as comfortable and functional as possible.

The new windows and doors hit the mark. “If I'm being honest, I looked at them and I was kind of in awe of how easily they move and the quality of them,” Essary says. 

Renewal by Andersen's Commitment to Community

Brian Keierleiber, Installation Manager for Renewal by Andersen of Greater Pittsburgh Summit Region, is a military veteran himself. He actively participates in the Renewal by Andersen Cares Council, a group that plans monthly, quarterly, and annual community service projects.

For Brian, helping veterans who earned and deserve support is the best part of his job. “I can tell you, my best days have all revolved around our Cares Council giving back. I love my job. I love what I do. Today I'm getting paid to bring happiness to someone,” says Keierleiber.

Andy Kohan, the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Renewal by Andersen team, shared that same enthusiasm. He noted that the entire team spent two and a half months meticulously planning this installation. They wanted to make absolutely certain that every detail was perfect for the Essary family. The installation crews were eager to jump in, knowing they were making a tangible difference in a local hero's life.

"You look at the sacrifice that not only Mr. Essary gave to the country, but his family sacrifice as well,” says Kohan. “For them to know that they're seen, their sacrifice is seen, and that there are people who want to do things to give back.”

As a fun bonus, the installation day actually fell on Bill’s birthday. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate.

The Folds of Honor Collaboration

This amazing project would not have been possible without Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military members and first responders.

Folds of Honor was founded in 2007 by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, and it has grown to make a massive impact across the country. In the Western Pennsylvania region alone, they awarded over 140 scholarships this past year. These funds help students from first grade all the way through graduate school and trade schools. In fact, both of the Essary children received Folds of Honor scholarships to help pursue their career aspirations.

For Leo Robert, Regional Impact Officer for Folds of Honor in Western Pennsylvania, the partnership between Folds of Honor and Renewal by Andersen was natural. “I was very impressed by the way that Renewal by Anderson did it. They really cared about making sure that the right family  was the one that got it. It's a great partnership, and something we're really proud of to be to be a part of.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Role in the Community

The Pittsburgh Steelers are legendary on the football field, but their dedication to the Western Pennsylvania community is equally impressive.

The Steelers have a long-standing history of community engagement and supporting veteran organizations. Tim Post, Corporate Partnerships Manager of the Steelers, explained that the franchise takes great pride in its Western Pennsylvania roots and loves aligning with local businesses to give back.

For Tim, this project felt incredibly personal. He grew up with a father who made a career in the Marine Corps. “To see it firsthand, to be a part of it growing up as a kid, I have more of an appreciation for our veterans and what they mean to us—in keeping us safe and honoring them for their service and what they've done for our country. So that only speaks volumes even more so to me because of the passion and love I have for supporting the military.”

“We pride ourselves in putting together awesome partnerships, and when you think about the why behind all those awesome partnerships, this is exactly it. What it brings together, and how people feel, and how we feel when we can see partnerships come to life that have that community tie and that give back, which means so much. It's something that I pride myself in, and I love to have as a part of the stories that we tell with great partners like Renewal.”

When the installation wrapped up, the transformation was undeniable. The Essary home instantly felt more comfortable, secure, and energy efficient.

Bill immediately noticed the difference in the living room. The blazing heat from the sun no longer radiated through the glass. And that frustrating patio door? Bill said the new one moves effortlessly with just his little finger. He can finally carry a barbecue tray to his smoker without a wrestling match.

Beyond the physical improvements, the emotional impact was profound. Bill expressed deep gratitude. “There are people who donate because they feel like they're being pressured to donate, and then there are people who do the things they do because they care – and that's what it seems like everybody here was today.”

For Renewal by Andersen, Folds of Honor, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the feeling was mutual. Everyone walked away with a profound sense of fulfillment, knowing they provided a tangible "thank you" to a family that has given so much.