Veteran’s Day 2025: Honoring and Supporting Those Who Serve

LRE is proud to honor and support the brave men and women who have served our country. On Veteran’s Day, and every day, we stand with our veteran employees and partner with organizations that provide life-changing programs, honor the fallen, and strengthen veterans’ well-being. 

As part of our commitment to supporting veterans, LRE r established the Veteran’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) this year, led by LRE’s VP, Technical Services, Dustin Wambeke, a U.S. Army veteran. The Veteran’s ERG is dedicated to celebrating the contributions of veterans, fostering connections among those who served, and strengthening partnerships with organizations that support the veteran community. Among other efforts, Army veteran and Veteran ERG member Adam Schappaugh, Manager Development Real Estate for several years has helped helping raise funds to support Wreaths Across America, which places wreaths at national cemeteries across the country, including those in North Texas. With LRE’s help, Adam was able to sponsor 50 Wreaths in 2024, with 35 of those coming from monetary support from LRE employees.    

Another veteran support project is LRE’s annual contribution to the Wounded Warrior Project through its Carry Forward Virtual 5K. Kristin Hodge of Project Controls is leading LRE’s LIMA ROMEO ECHO Squad, which for three consecutive years has participated in the Carry Forward Virtual 5K. The 5K raises funds to empower and uplift post-911 veterans. LRE will hold its Virtual 5K this year on Veteran’s Day with more than 60 employees in 16 states participating. The team’s goal is to raise $50,000. 

“I have family and friends  in the military, and I have seen  how often their sacrifices are overlooked. That’s why I support the Wounded Warrior Project,” Kristin noted. “ Our veterans are incredibly important and deserve our full support.” 

LRE partnered with the Training Center of Central Texas (TCCT) to provide hands-on training programs that lead to careers in several industries including renewable energy. Located in Killeen, Texas, the training center has a strong focus on veterans, military spouses, and their families, as the trade school is located adjacent to the Fort Hood U.S. Army base. 

“Seventy percent of our students are either active-duty military or veterans,” said Reginald Hodges, President and CEO of TCCT, and a Navy veteran. “When people leave the military, they’re often looking for a career direction and we’re helping bridge that gap. Our partnership with LRE is a perfect fit. What better way to honor veterans than to train them for a great job in a great industry.” 

LRE also continues to support Frontline Hives through donations from the LRE Foundation. Frontline Hives is an Ohio-based nonprofit that offers free beekeeping training for military veterans, first responders, and their spouses. Since it began, Frontline Hives has trained and provided hives to nearly 50 veterans. 

On this Veterans Day, we salute all who have served and thank you for your courage, sacrifice, and service. We are continually committed to honoring and supporting veterans. 

About LRE

LRE (Leeward Renewable Energy) is a high-growth renewable energy company forging a sustainable future through integrity, innovation, and positive impact. We own and operate over 30 large wind, solar, and energy storage projects across the United States, totaling over 4 gigawatts (GW) of generating capacity.  

LRE has an ambitious goal of 10GW of operating assets by 2028 and is developing and contracting an increasing pipeline of new projects every year. We take a full-lifecycle approach to our projects, built on a long-term ownership model and a company culture dedicated to our community partners and protecting the environment. LRE is a portfolio company of OMERS Infrastructure, an investment arm of OMERS, one of the largest defined pension plans in Canada, with C$128.6 billion in net assets (as of Dec 31, 2023). For more information, visit www.lreus.com.