Ford Supports Honor Flight
Ford Motor Company and its Ford Motor Company Fund recently
sponsored a flight bringing nearly 100 Chicago-area veterans to the
National Mall in D.C. in advance of Veteran’s Day.
Escorted by guardians and medical volunteers, the 91 veterans who took part in the Oct. 29 flight spent about an hour touring the memorial before continuing on their trip, but not without expressing their gratitude for all those who made the trip possible.
“I have never had as much adulation as getting off the plane (to visit the memorials),” said Ted Sumara, a Navy veteran of World War II. “Get more of the veterans to see this. This is tremendous.”
It was the third Honor Flight the Fortune 500 Company has sponsored this year, and the ninth since the company began sponsoring the flights in 2012.
“Ford is privileged to play a small role in what we hope is a big day of reflection, remembrance and recognition for those who fought to defend freedom, democracy and the American way of life,” said Jim Vella, president of Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.
Since 1974, Ford has provided more than $9 million to veterans’ organizations, including DAV. The longstanding partnership between the two organizations began in 1922 when Henry Ford organized a caravan of 50 Model T’s to take veterans to their annual convention. Over the last 19 years, Ford has donated over 178 vehicles to DAV to support volunteer initiatives.
Escorted by guardians and medical volunteers, the 91 veterans who took part in the Oct. 29 flight spent about an hour touring the memorial before continuing on their trip, but not without expressing their gratitude for all those who made the trip possible.
“I have never had as much adulation as getting off the plane (to visit the memorials),” said Ted Sumara, a Navy veteran of World War II. “Get more of the veterans to see this. This is tremendous.”
It was the third Honor Flight the Fortune 500 Company has sponsored this year, and the ninth since the company began sponsoring the flights in 2012.
“Ford is privileged to play a small role in what we hope is a big day of reflection, remembrance and recognition for those who fought to defend freedom, democracy and the American way of life,” said Jim Vella, president of Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.
Since 1974, Ford has provided more than $9 million to veterans’ organizations, including DAV. The longstanding partnership between the two organizations began in 1922 when Henry Ford organized a caravan of 50 Model T’s to take veterans to their annual convention. Over the last 19 years, Ford has donated over 178 vehicles to DAV to support volunteer initiatives.
veterans
