‘Keep veterans employed’: Navy veteran, local business owner looks to give back to others like him

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When disaster strikes you may see Wayne Terry’s crew from PuroClean on scene.

“When a fire job happens, somebody’s home catches fire, the first thing we’ll do is take all the contents that we can save and we’ll bring it out and bring it back here to be processed,” Terry said.

Terry gave News4JAX the full tour of his warehouse on Veterans Day.

He bought the company back in 2007 and has built it into one of the area’s most reliable services.

It is not just fire or mold cleanup. If someone is swallowed by hoarding Terry’s company is called. When someone dies or is killed, he makes the home a place where people can return to.

“When I came into the business, one thing I didn’t think about is how appreciative people are that there’s a service like this out there. And so, when you go in, I mean, you’re almost like Superman,” he said.

Minus the cape, but with eight years of Navy military service to back it up.

“Veterans Day is a day for us to really realize everybody that has fought for our country, for our freedom. So, every Veterans Day, I have to stand back and just take a look and be very thankful for where we are today,” he said.

One way he does that is by what he keeps in his warehouse.

“What’s so special about these boots is that every one of them has a reason why somebody passed away in them,” he said.

In his warehouse, he stores the boots used every year for Boots On the Ground, an event that honors the firefighters and veterans who died.

It’s just another reminder of why service means something to Terry, and why he is looking to give back by continuing to hire veterans.

We asked how many veterans Terry has hired over the years.

“25 or 30 in 17 years,” he said.

Right now, he is looking for several to hire. He says it’s a way of giving thanks or supporting veteran-owned businesses.

A look at Visit Jacksonville has a number of veteran-owned businesses that you can help support every day of the year.

“They know how to learn. They know how to work. They know how to train. They know how to communicate, very talented people,” he said.

On a day we remember the service of those who have served News4JAX asked him what a good way is to thank a veteran.

“Keep veterans employed,” he said.

If you are a veteran and looking for a job Florida Commerce has a link to career services on its website.