God - Fearing, Patriotic America needs to stand up, stand out, and make a difference on this one!
Let's make an example of Home Depot (for better or worse). I propose we present Home Depot with a positive choice, and an opportunity to right this terrible wrong!
A Little Background:
Trevor Keezer, a 20 year old resident of Okeechobee, Florida, had been working at Home Depot for about 19 months, and for just as long, has also been wearing his "One Nation Under God" button on his orange apron (a trade mark of Home Depot stores). At first nobody said anything about Trevor's button, until one day a supervisor told Trevor she liked his pin-on button, and actually wanted to wear it herself.
Trevor, who was selected as "Cashier of the Month" and who won the "Homer" Award 6 times (Home Depot's highest employee recognition); said he wore the pin, with the quote from our Pledge of Allegiance, to show support for our troops at war, and to express his Christian faith. Trevor's older brother, Steven, is a soldier in the U.S. Army and is scheduled to deploy to Iraq for his second tour of duty in December of this year.
Things only began to go downhill during Trevor's last month at Home Depot; when Trevor started bringing his Bible to work, to read during his breaks. That was when Home Depot management told Trevor to take the button off, or he would be sent home without pay!
Well, if you have ever been to Home Depot (I, previous to this incident, had shopped there quite often), you can't help but notice that most of the employees there have more buttons, pins, and patches on their orange aprons, than most Christmas trees have lights and balls.
Photo: Who Is Going To Notice An Extra Pin or Patch? God - Fearing Employees Should Not Be Censored For Their Views. Especially When They Are The Views Of MOST Of Home Depot's Customers! A Lesson To Learn: Our First Amendment Rights Are Always More Important Than Making Money. Denying Employees Permission To Express And Celebrate America's God, Makes Home Depot More Like A Chinese Company Than A Traditional American One.
The company told Trevor that he could only wear "company approved" insignia on his apron regardless of their message or content. They suggested that Trevor instead wear the Home Depot approved "United We Stand" button, if he wanted to support the troops (that way he could look patriotic without mentioning God).
Trevor declined, saying of his position, "You can't have a country without God."
Wow! You usually don't see wisdom like that coming from 20 year olds these days. But never-the-less, that is a Truth (John 15: 4-5) that is known and celebrated by many millions of us God - Fearing, Patriotic Citizens all across America!
Trevor commented that it never crossed his mind, to take the button off, saying, "I'm standing for something bigger than I am." When company management continued to tell Trevor of the severe consequences that would befall him, he said, "I just let God be in control and went with His plan."
Trevor did not remove his pin, and was sent home for six days without pay. Finally, Home Depot terminated the once stellar employee from their payroll for his defiant stand.
"I want to be a voice for the rest of the Christians, and for the citizens of this country, to stand up... You know, quit being told to sit down. Say what you want to say and don't be afraid of the consequences..." -Trevor Keezer
From Humble Beginnings To Phenomenal Success: Has Home Depot Finally Turned From The Core Values That Earned Them So Much Gold?
Today, Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement store chain. In a little over 20 years they have turned a few home improvement stores into a company worth more than 50 Billion dollars, with thousands of locations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, The U.S. Virgin islands, Canada, Mexico, and China.
Home Depot founders, Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank, ironically, both of whom were fired from their jobs, just prior to the two of them teaming up to introduce the Home Depot "do-it-yourself" concept to America; built their company on sounds values:
Opening their first store on June 22, 1979, with a simple mission, to provide the highest level of service in the home improvement business, with the broadest selection of products, at the most competitive prices.
The company, once upon a time, had 8 core values:
- Excellent customer service
- Taking care of our people
- Giving back
- Doing the "right" thing
- Creating shareholder value
- Respect for all people
- Entrepreneurial spirit &
- Building strong relationships.
Founder Bernie Marcus (a son of Jewish refugees from Russia) has done much good in local communities, and with his employees. To repay his employees for their dedication, associates were rewarded with stock options. Former secretaries and sales personnel who never even reached the management level are millionaires today because of purchase plans and stock options they received when they started working for the company.
To Bernie, his employees were never just staff. To him, the employees of The Home Depot were family. This became a commitment for Bernie, a commitment to family, to employees, and with the increase in business, a commitment to philanthropy. Bernie believed in looking first toward family needs, and was very passionate about Jewish causes. Bernie saw the survival of the Jewish people and the survival of his beloved nation of Israel as of paramount importance. His involvement in Israel led him to found the IDI (the Israel Democracy Institute), which accumulates information on legislation passed in other countries and advises the Israeli government whether or not to implement those changes at home.
Bernie once said that he remembers his mother saying the happiest days of her life was the day she became an American Citizen. He has also said he is proud to be an native born American, and that he values and loves this great country.
Today we wonder why those who are running Home Depot, have forgotten the values that made millions of Americans shop in Bernie's stores.
Photo: You Can Be As Patriotic As You Want, Just Don't Mention God! Home Depot Flies The American Flag... But Mention God And You Could Be Looking For A New Job!
Co-Founder Arthur Blank also exemplifies the traits that once made Home Depot a great company to work for:
"I think of myself primarily as a servant leader. My job is simply to support the people in our stores, to create a workplace that excites them. If I do my job well, they'll enjoy personal growth. And from that, the company will find financial growth," - Arthur M. Blank
Arthur shows how Home Depot first created such tremendous employee loyalty with statements such as, "the employee who "rings up" the sale is the highest guy in the company." He also gives insight into what was once a hallmark "work in progress" attitude at Home Depot; one that led to numerous improvements and refinements. Speaking of customer and employee feedback, Arthur once said:
"We listen to them. We care about them. We do the things they say are right. And when they show how stupid we are in the systems we have, we change the systems."
No wonder the company was once among "America's Most Admired", according to Fortune magazine's ranking.
Home Depot: Here's Your Choice, And An Opportunity To Right A Terrible Wrong:
Put Trevor Keezer back on the payroll, with back-pay for time missed. Institute a New company button or pin that says, "One Nation Under God", and give your employees the option of wearing it with all your other patches, pins, bells and whistles. You are a hardware store, not a high-end restaurant; you won't hurt your image!
If you do this, I and any other God - Fearing, Patriotic Americans I can get to listen, will continue to shop at Home Depot because you did the Right Thing, at the Right Time, in the Right Way, for the Right Reason! This is your positive choice, and will show you are still listening to your customers. IF NOT, I'll spend my money at your competitors exclusively!
I believe the Home Depot of today, has strayed from their founders' values! I have written and called Home Depot's Customer Relations and Investor Relations (they are a publicly traded company), with absolutely NO RESPONSE!
I am NOT the only one besides Trevor who is upset with Home Depot for terminating a young man who stood for the principles America was founded on, and who was tired of our watered down society, and the intolerance of our beloved God-centered culture.
I suspect there are more than a few million Home Depot customers out there, like me (I remodeled several houses, and spent close to a hundred thousand dollars at Home Depot, over the last 20 years). So I invite all of you to join me in making a point and negatively effecting Home Depot's bottom line.
Call and write Home Depot's Corporate Offices, visit your local store and speak with the manager; let them know you will no longer shop at Home Depot until they re-hire Trevor Keezer, and back-pay him for work hours lost.
Demand that Home Depot offers a "One Nation Under God" button to ALL of their employees, and makes a public apology for persecuting a young man who did the right thing... "standing up to preserve our National Heritage and Culture, in a world that cares more about money than in doing what is right".
Support Lowes, Ace Hardware, or your local Mom and Pop hardware stores and contractor supply outlets, especially anyone that will sport a "One Nation Under God" banner, sign, or buttons and pins, in support of Trevor.
When Corporate Home Depot realizes that it is not the economy that is hurting them, but their intolerance of the millions of God - Fearing, Patriotic Americans that are no longer shopping there, maybe they will reconsider a local manager's poor decision.
Many of us are canceling our Home Depot credit cards, and going to our local Home Depot outlets in-person, wearing our One Nation Under God shirts and pins, to let them know how we feel. A few million e-mails, letters, and phone calls can have a mighty effect on a money driven business.
Do you own Home Depot Stock?
Call: (770) 384-2871 or e-mail: investor_relations@homedepot.com to let them know how you feel about the firing of Trevor Keezer for wearing his "One Nation Under God" pin. Tell them you will not be buying more stock until they re-hire Trevor Keezor.
Call Home Depot Customer Care:
at (800)654-0688 [ext : 14807] or (800)430-3376 and let them know how you feel about the firing of Trevor Keezer for wearing his "One Nation Under God" pin. Tell them you will not be shopping at Home Depot until they re-hire Trevor Keezer!
Call Home Depot Major Appliances:
at (800)455-3869 and tell them you will not be buying another major appliance at Home Depot until they re-hire Trevor Keezer!
Home Depot: The Ball Is Now In Your Court!
I really like shopping at Home Depot, but taking a firm stand on a just cause is more important to me. I can just as easily shop at Sears, Lowes, Ace Hardware, or a million other places. Bring back Trevor and start providing your employees with the option of wearing a "One Nation Under God" pin, and WE WILL START SHOPPING AT HOME DEPOT AGAIN!
For God and My Country,
Bob Brown
One Nation Under God U.S.A.
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STAND UP, STAND OUT, AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, property, and freedom of worship here." - Patrick Henry
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