Our Journey at Arlington Woodworks
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My name is Jesse Arlington (middle in picture), I am a US Navy Veteran and the founder of Arlington Woodworks. I would like to share my story with you. If that’s okay, please read on.
Life has a way of surprising us, sometimes with joy and other times with profound sorrow. For me, the turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just as the world was grappling with lockdowns, my life was turned upside down. May 29, 2020, my father, unable to reach the hospital in time, passed away suddenly. His final words, "Tell my wife that I love her," echo in my heart to this day.
During this time, my brother Aaron (right in picture) was in the midst of a three-year battle with stage 4 colon cancer. On November 17, 2021, surrounded by loved ones, he peacefully took his last breath. Losing my father was devastating, but my brother's passing was the hardest day of my life.
In the months and years that followed, my grief turned into a deep depression. My over 10-year passion for woodworking faded, and my workshop became a reflection of my state of mind—cluttered and neglected. But as I started to confront my depression, I found solace in cleaning up and slowly returning to woodworking.
One evening, over dinner, my wife and I talked about how we could make a bigger impact. That's when the idea struck me—we could start a business to honor my brother's memory, giving to charity and raising awareness.
And so, Arlington Woodworks was reborn. More than just a business, it has become a way to carry forward a legacy of love, resilience, and giving back. Each piece we craft and finish, is made with care, dedication, and a purpose.
Arlington Woodworks isn't just about woodworking; it's about creating something meaningful from the pain, about transforming loss into hope, and about making a difference in the lives of others.
