Ford partners with veterans organizations such as Blue Star Families and Guitars4Vets to allow veterans and their families to drive Broncos on off-road courses.
Ford Motor Co., Ltd. has partnered with veterans organizations to invite veterans and their families to a Bronco off-road event in Texas.
Approximately 200 veterans, survivors, service members and their families attended the event last month at the Ford facility in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. The event featured a four-hour off-road adventure, sharing sessions, motivational speakers, a special dinner, live music from Guitars 4 Veterans, as well as access to job placement and veteran services.
Participants included 70 Gold Star families, as well as members of veterans groups such as Purple Heart recipients, Blue Star families, TAPS, the Travis Mannion Foundation, and Guitars 4 Vets. Many veterans also participated as trail guides for Ford’s off-road course, deepening the friendships among the participants.
Cathy Ross Duque, CEO of Blue Star Families and the spouse of a Marine Corps veteran, said, “Ford is proud to be making this Bronco Off-Road for so many military and veteran families. “I’m very excited to do a road rodeo,” he told FOX Business. Interview. “They take their families on amazing adventures, climbing up and down rocks and building friendships and excitement.”
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Veterans, their families and survivors participate in Ford’s “Proud to Honor: Bronco Off-Roadeo.” (Courtesy of Ford/Fox News)
“But this is not just about having this great day and showing our gratitude to those who serve and their families. It’s all about sharing the resources that are available for families. “It is,” she explained. Ross Bouquet added that the event also gives the various participating veterans groups an opportunity to connect and find ways to work together.
Nigel Fisher, director of advancement for Guitars for Vets and a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, told FOX Business that the group’s performances at events such as Bronco Off-Road were inspired by the wartime era. He said it helps to show the strength of the veterans who may have been injured during the war. Their service to their country can continue.
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“The music is great, but we wanted to adapt the adaptive nature of the program and adapting our veterans with physical challenges to a style of playing that many athletes without physical limitations would do.” “It really shows how we teach things that we might not be able to do. There are challenges,” he said.
“It’s really nice to be able to share that in person, and a lot of our veterans will get to know us and see it firsthand for the first time by attending this event. There’s no better example.” All of us here will be attending tonight’s performance, then stepping out into the crowd as dinner continues and answering questions about what our experience was like on the program. “We can do that,” Fisher said.
Veterans groups connected with veterans, their families and survivors at the Ford Bronco Off-Road event. (Courtesy of Ford/Fox News)
Ford also sent part of its human resources team to help deploy veterans and reservists.
“They’re making a point of hiring veterans, they’re hiring people who serve in the reservists. We need reservists, so I’d ask all employers to do that. We have people who are currently deployed to us. 40 per cent of our troops are in the Reserves or the National Army.If we don’t make it possible for Guardsmen and employers to allow people to work and serve in the Reserves, we won’t be able to protect this country.” Ross Duque said.
Officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs were also on hand to help veterans access services and address issues that previously prevented them from accessing services.
Ford honors veterans, military community with special Bronco off-road event
Participants drove a Ford Bronco off-road on the trails of Horseshoe Bay, Texas. (Courtesy of Ford/Fox News)
When he retired from the Marines in 2013, Fisher said he had a “bit of a rocky start” as a veteran, adding, “Some veterans have heard those stories from their colleagues. I think so, and we’re counting on our colleagues.” We appreciate your feedback to help guide us as we transition. ”
“What I’ve discovered over the past year is that there has been an immense change in the quality of service, the quality of care, the quality of disability claims processing, and that’s absolutely true. “It’s an opportunity to renew our relationship with veterans through events like this,” Fisher said.
Ford partnered with veterans organizations to invite veterans and their families to a Bronco off-road event in Texas. (Courtesy of Ford/Fox News)
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“I contacted the Veterans Administration and said, ‘From what I’ve heard, you’re going to get better care than you would get in the private sector, so I’d love to get back in touch with you.'” he explained. “Throughout the course of that adventure and my own journey to seek care again at the Veterans Administration, I am truly happy to share with you that it has been nothing short of first class. So it is a key part of our efforts. That’s the side of things that we’re doing here. ”
