No matter how you feel about war, in general, or any particular war, it is hard to argue with the fact that supporting soldiers who have been hurt is a fine endeavor. This is a press release we received from H-D regarding its Foundation’s significant financial support of the Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization.
ATLANTA (August 4, 2010) – Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) yesterday announced the awarding of a second $1 million grant from the Harley-Davidson Foundation, Inc. to the non-profit organization, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Harley-Davidson’s relationship with the DAV dates to 2006, when the Harley-Davidson Foundation made a prior $1 million grant to the organization. The new grant announced yesterday at the DAV National Convention in Atlanta is designated for continued funding of the DAV’s Mobile Service Office (MSO) program over the next four years.
“We are proud to continue our relationship with the DAV and help the organization support veterans of all generations,” said Gail Lione, President, Harley-Davidson Foundation. “Veterans have always been important members of the Harley-Davidson family and partnering with the DAV is an ideal way to support them and recognize their contributions to our country.”
The DAV MSO program increases veterans’ accessibility to benefits by literally putting service offices on the road. Since 2007, this program sponsored by Harley-Davidson — dubbed Harley’s Heroes® — has visited thousands of sites across the United States, providing important counseling and assistance to help tens of thousands of veterans secure the benefits to which they are entitled from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and other government agencies.
“Harley-Davidson not only represents freedom and patriotism, the Company backs up its brand and generously supports those brave men and women whose sacrifices protect our nation,” said DAV National Adjutant/CEO Arthur H. Wilson. “Through the support of the Harley-Davidson Foundation, DAV representatives have visited nearly 300 dealerships across the nation on the Harley’s Heroes tour, delivering free benefits assistance to disabled veterans and their families through our Mobile Service Office program. It’s hard to put into words just how much the Harley’s Heroes program has meant to thousands of sick and wounded heroes.”
Founded in 1920 by disabled veterans returning from World War I, the DAV has continually represented the unique interests of the men and women who bear the wounds and scars of war. Through their network of 110 National Service Offices, 10 mobile service offices, and Transition Service Officers at more than 100 military installations, the 1.2 million member DAV builds better lives for all America’s disabled veterans and their families. In 2009, DAV represented nearly a quarter of a million veterans and their families in their claims for VA benefits, obtaining for them nearly $4.5 billion in new and retroactive benefits.
To learn more about Harley-Davidson’s support of veterans, visit, www.harley-davidson.com, including the “Salute to Veterans” page.
I’m a disabled Veteran and a Marine. There are a great number of us willing and able to do as much as we can for one another and am glad “THE MOTOR COMPANY” stepped up AGAIN to give us an opportunity to do so. I try to make the “TOYS for TOTS” Run every year too. I read where one of the people here that gives his or her thoughts about H.D. said he would be glad when us Baby Boomers where all dead and gone so he would not have to hear about the bikes that Harley makes and how old and crappy they were. I didn’t respond then but I will now and say that I only hope the next generation can pull their butts away from their video games long enough to help any way they can. Our new returning Vets are facing many issues and what H.D. is doing is a big help by giving vets a way to contact the people they need to in order to get the help they need. Freedom is never cheap and never will be. Semper Fi.
Theres a fair number of brainless twits that respond to stuff on this board with stupid crap like being glad when us baby boomers are gone. On the other hand we may outlive the Gen Ys who get away from their video games long enough to wrap their plastic rockets around the nearest tree.
Thanks for your service and you’re right, the Vets returning now deserve anything we can do for them, they are terrific young men and women.
Yes, a very honorable cause for sure. Ever wonder about Harley in particular aligning themselves with just such causes? Do you think other than good will and charity it’s also used as a marketing tool? I mean, on what other brand do you see riders themselves with bikes festooned with flags and plate rims with POW and MIA messages? Those riders themselves even vets perhaps?
I mean no disrespect to the generous gift made but I’ve always thought that alignment could be even as much a marketing tool as simply a gift to a worthy cause.
You are probably right but you also probably know that nearly all corporations who do any sort of charitable work do so, in some small part, for marketing purposes. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be any press releases announcing the charitable works. Personally, I don’t have a big problem with that.
You don’t even see the othe manufacturers doing it at all, regardless of the stated reason or any possible secondary gain.
I’m sure it doesn’t hurt their feelings at HD that they get some good press of this, so what?
I guess you could ask you pals, (the Japanese manufacturers?) what they do to support veterans or any other causes.
Not sure why you might select the Japanese in your reference, motorcycles are made all over the world in many countries.
Joking aside, that’s a very honorable cause and I’m glad to see HD continually stepping up to support it.
…yeah, that’s what I meant to say. In case anybody was too thick to get the point.
It is great to have an American motorcycle company for a lot of reasons. Lets hope Harley does what they can to keep this program going.
No matter how you feel about Harley-Davidson, in general…
….or any particular Harley Davidson….
Good for Harley, they are showing support where it counts. Harley riders always ban together for charity events. Our Troops need all the support they can get!