Americans in communities all over the USA should help the people who are willing to sacrifice their lives to protect our nation.
Roofs for Troops is a great step in that direction.
Roofs for Troops is a program that was established by Wayne, N.J.-based GAF Materials Corporation, which calls itself “North America’s largest manufacturer of commercial and residential roofing.” The program helps American troops pay for their homes' roofs by giving them a $300 rebate on their GAF lifetime roofing system when the roof is installed by a contractor that GAF has certified, the company says on its website.
“GAF is honored to be able to give back to the brave men and women who have risked their lives to keep our country safe,” said GAF senior vice president of marketing Paul Bromfield, according to a 2012 GAF press release.
All past and current members of the U.S. military are eligible to get the rebates. The program was started in 2012, but it has been extended to at least Dec. 31, 2013.
GAF’s website details what eligible military personnel must do to get the rebate. Providing proof of military service is mandatory. Anyone who wants a rebate must submit the needed documents so they are received by Jan. 31, 2014. It's expected that rebates will be sent within eight weeks.
Why We Should Help
There are several reasons why American military personnel deserve rebates on roof construction (and other purchases). They include:
* The troops often forsake more lucrative careers to serve the USA and, thus, make tremendous financial sacrifices.
* The troops often are away from their families for years.
* The troops often have difficulty making the transition from military service to civilian life for financial and psychological reasons.
* The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median pay in 2011 for an American who was enlisted in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy was about $33,600 per year. This median pay is based on troops who have served the USA for eight years, including sergeants in the Air Force, Army and Marines and the equivalent rank in the Navy -- petty officers first class.
* Basic recruits are paid $16,075 annually.
* Even Navy commanders and Air Force, Army and Marines lieutenant colonels only had a median salary of about $75,000 per year in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Americans should do everything they can to help our brave men and women with their everyday expenses.
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