Ford Motor Company Fund Sends Louisville War Veterans to Visit National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

For the third year in a row, Ford Motor Company Fund is sponsoring an Honor Flight for Louisville-area veterans to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Approximately 70 military veterans from Louisville and Kentucky will participate in the event Saturday, June 6, the 71st anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Europe during World War II

Ford’s support of military veterans dates back more than 90 years, and since 1974, Ford and Ford Fund have provided more than $8 million to veterans’ organizations

LOUISVILLE, KY -- June 05, 2015: Ford Motor Company Fund is sponsoring an Honor Flight to transport Louisville area veterans to the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The World War II Honor Flight veterans – all in their eighties and nineties – will be greeted at the national memorial by members of Congress and Ford employees.

“This will be the first visit for many of them to the national memorial dedicated in their honor. It is a small, but important gesture to recognize their tremendous courage.”

Ford Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, is covering the cost of the trip to Washington, D.C. for approximately 70 veterans from Louisville and Kentucky to experience national memorials dedicated in their honor. The trip was organized by Honor Flight Bluegrass, the Kentucky hub of the Honor Flight Network, and coincides with the 71st anniversary of D-Day, the pivotal Allied invasion of Europe during World War II.

“The service and bravery of these soldiers more than 70 years ago will never be forgotten,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “This will be the first visit for many of them to the national memorial dedicated in their honor. It is a small, but important gesture to recognize their tremendous courage.”

This is the third year in a row Ford has sponsored an Honor Flight for Louisville-area veterans. Ford’s support of military veterans dates back more than 90 years, when Henry Ford organized a cross-country caravan of 50 Model T Fords to take disabled veterans to the 1922 national convention of the Disabled American Veterans in San Francisco. Since 1974, Ford and Ford Fund have provided more than $8 million to veterans’ organizations, including support for the National World War II Memorial.

Ford’s support for veterans continues to evolve to meet their changing needs. Earlier this year, Ford collaborated with National Veterans Transition Services, Inc. on the Freedom’s Sisters REBOOT Workshop, a three-week program in Los Angeles that helped women veterans address the unique challenges they face transitioning out of the military. Click here for a video on the program.

As a group compared to men, women veterans are less likely to be married, and are more likely to be single parents and unemployed. In addition to higher rates of homelessness, they also often face gaps in medical care for women’s health issues as they enter a veterans system geared toward treating males.

Ford today employs more than 7,000 veterans plus hundreds of active military personnel, reservists and guardsmen.