By Stacie Van Dyke
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A Vietnam veteran got an unexpected surprise Friday when contractors showed up at his Grand Forks home to install a new high-efficiency furnace and air conditioning system — completely free of charge.
John Nordine learned he was selected for the surprise installation when Chuck from C.L. Linfoot Company called to tell him he was a finalist.
“Chuck gave me a call and said you’re a finalist and I said great! For what?” John told us.
The veteran’s daughter had submitted a letter nominating her father to receive the new HVAC system through Lennox’s Feel the Love program. The installation, which would normally cost between $8,000 and $10,000, was provided at no cost through a partnership between C.L. Linfoot Company and Lennox.
“This is a wish come true here I’ll tell ya,” John said.
Chuck Savage with C.L. Linfoot Company said the program isn’t about charity but rather giving back to those who have given so much.
“It’s not charity or anything like that, it’s giving back to someone who has already given,” Chuck said.
John’s service extends beyond his military duty in Vietnam. He now spends his days at a memory care facility where his wife receives treatment for dementia, working to lift the spirits of other residents and staff.
“She’d be crying her eyes out. Smiling. She’d be asking the guys if they want coffee or cookies — asking, can I make you dinner? They’d be eating more than they’d be working,” John said, describing how his wife would react to seeing the workers.
Chuck said the installation day has become his employees’ favorite day of the year, even without the promise of home-cooked meals.
For John, the timing couldn’t be better.
“From the bottom of my heart and my wife’s it’s a big thank you,” he said. “The big guy upstairs works in mysterious ways. You can be knocked down but you can be picked up, too.”
Lennox and its dealers have provided more than 2,700 free installations for deserving individuals over the past 15 years through various charitable programs.
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