ACE Home Services, a veteran-owned company, has replaced the AC unit for Shanen Dunagan, a 100% disabled Marine veteran, and his family, at no cost. This initiative is part of their annual program dedicated to providing AC services to a deserving veteran.
Shanen Dunagan served in the Marines from 1994 to 2004, enduring significant hardships. During his service, he was severely injured in Afghanistan, resulting in 15 surgeries and a long battle with PTSD, TBI, chronic back pain, and adjustment disorder. Despite these challenges, Shanen has dedicated his life to supporting fellow veterans. He operates a 24-hour suicide hotline and provides extensive support to veterans and their families, helping them navigate their own struggles.
Monica Dunagan, Shanen’s wife, nominated him for the AC unit giveaway, hoping to alleviate the stress caused by their failing AC system. In her nomination, she highlighted the difficulties they face: “Shanen struggled a lot with PTSD, TBI, chronic back pain, and adjustment disorder living in the civilian world. He now takes thousands of calls a month to help other veterans. He has a phone dedicated to veterans, which is a 24-hour suicide line.”
The Dunagan family’s home often reached temperatures of up to 90 degrees, making it particularly challenging for Shanen and their four children. Monica expressed how the AC unit would be a tremendous relief: “The AC is a big source of stress for my husband, and I wanted to be able to bless Shanen by taking away the burden of the AC system being done right in our home.”
Shanen initially doubted the giveaway, thinking it was just another high quote they couldn’t afford. “I actually didn’t believe it at first,” he said. “When my wife told me, ‘Hey, we have an AC company that’s coming out,’ I just thought, okay, great, she called somebody, they’re coming out. They’re going to give us another high quote that I’m not going to be able to do.”
However, to his surprise, ACE Home Services replaced their entire unit for free. “We’re a veteran-owned company, so this is just our way of giving back to the community. We’re really excited to support the Dunagans today; I feel like we couldn’t have picked a more deserving family,” Liberty English, Community Engagement from ACE Home Services, stated.
Shanen reflected on the impact of this gesture: “I lost about a decade of my life, being back here, and what I mean by that is just PTSD, depression, adjustment disorder, anxiety, nightmares—all of the above. Suicidal ideation and all of those things. So for about ten years of my life, through 15 surgeries that I’ve had because of injuries that I sustained… It’s truly life-changing to just sit and be able to actually receive this blessing.”
Monica shared her shock and gratitude upon hearing they had won the giveaway: “I got a phone call that we actually won, and I was completely in shock. I’m still kind of in shock now.”
