O -D IRECTOR UAW-D AIMLER C HRYSLER N ATIONAL T RAINING C ENTER R ON R USSELL C OMMUNICATIONS A DMINISTRATOR B OB E RICKSON C OMMUNICATIONS S PECIALIST T ANISHA D AVIS -P EREZ S TAFF W RITER M ICHAEL B ULLER E DITOR K AREN E NGLISH S ENIOR E DITOR M EGHAN R OWLEY M ANAGING E DITOR S USAN C ASSIDY C OPY E DITOR K RISTIN B RADETICH A SSOCIATE A RT D IRECTOR C ATHERINE K ORN P RODUCTION M ANAGER K EVIN C AVANAUGH A CCOUNT M ANAGER This magazine is printed by a union printer on union-made recycled paper.<br><br> AS UAW LOCAL 1264 PAYS TRIBUTE TO OUR NATION 9S war heroes on November 11, 2002, it will be creating the final chapter in a story of perseverance, pride and patriotism. The unveiling of a bronze plaque dedicated cTo Those Who Served d represents the true meaning of Veterans Day, and sends a message none of us should forget. The inscription begins: We walk for those who no longer walk.<br><br> We speak for those whose voice is still. We remember those with memories lost, And we honor those who fell. These words also capture the spirit of our fourth annual Veterans Day Special Issue of Tomorrow .<br><br> We found members of the U.S. armed forces defending our freedom at home and abroad against global terrorism, including men and women from DaimlerChrysler. We 9re pleased to salute a representative group of them, the many other veterans who have served our country so courageously in previous conflicts, and the employees who responded as civilians in time of crisis.<br><br> The story behind the plaque began six years ago when Tony Romero, vice chairman of the Local 1264 Veterans Association, visited the Fort Custer National Cemetery near Battle Creek, Mich. As he walked down the Memorial Pathway for the first time, he was inspired by the tributes from veterans organizations on the plaques that lined the walk. cI had the feeling this was sacred ground, d recalls Romero, a hi-lo driver at Sterling Stamping and a Vietnam vet who served in the U.S.<br><br> Army 9s 59th Ordnance Group. Inspired by the experience, Romero undertook what he calls cmy mission d to add a plaque from Local 1264 to the Memorial Pathway. He led the veterans association 9s prolonged but successful campaign to obtain a waiver of government policies to become the first union local to be represented at Fort Custer, the second largest U.S.<br><br> military ceme- tery. The association joined organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion when the plaque was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1999. (Learn about the association 9s determined efforts to recognize Vietnam vets on page 4.) This Veterans Day, Local 1264 9s testimonial cTo Those Who Served d is coming home.<br><br> A replica of the plaque is being dedicated at the union hall, mounted in a place of respect in front of the flagpole. cIt represents the membership and will let everyone know they 9re part of this, d says Romero. cWith the world situation the way it is, we need to stand up for our country and the people who are putting their lives on the line to protect it.<br><br> We know what they 9re going through. d Nate Gooden John Franciosi A Special Remembrance Side by Side DaimlerChrysler Senior Vice President John Franciosi (left) and UAW Vice President Nate Gooden LOOKING AHEAD AT THE UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER 24 Taking a Stand Workers make sure homeless veterans are not forgotten. 26 True Colors This veterans committee chairman has a mission. 27 Observances How Veterans Day is observed at some DaimlerChrysler facilities and UAW locals.<br><br> 28 Roll Call A salute to workers who have served in the wake of 9/11. 4 10 14 Volume 6 " Number 5 Features 2 Side by Side Taking time to remember all who stand up for freedom. 4 Remembrance Michigan 9s Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands proud, thanks in part to these workers.<br><br> Departments Answering the Call Workers who serve in the Reserves and National Guard are always ready to take up the fight for freedom. By Molly Rose Teuke United We Stand The War on Terrorism puts us all on the front lines. Meet some workers who have found different ways to contribute as civilians.<br><br> By Bob Ourlian One Nation Look around any facility, and you 9ll see workers displaying their true colors. Our photo essay takes a tour of some of these eye- catching displays of patriotism. Heroes Among Us Profiles of some of the many veterans of different wars who work with us.<br><br> By S.C. Biemesderfer 14 Special Issue: Veterans Day 2002 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org Tomorrow (ISSN: 1096-1429) is published quarterly with two special issues in spring and fall for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler National Traini ng Center by Pohly & Partners, Inc., 27 Melcher Street, 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02210, 800.383.0888. Periodicals postage rates paid at Boston, Mass.<br><br> and additional en try offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tomorrow , 2211 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48207. © 2002 by UAW-DaimlerChrysler National Training Center.<br><br> All rights reserved. Rep roduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. 5 10 16 cover Sheila Hardemon page 5 cover photo by David Deal 16 T here 9s no lack of patriotism in Michigan.<br><br> During the Vietnam era, more Michigan residents served in the U.S. armed forces than did citizens of any other state but Calif- ornia. But until last year, Michi- gan had no monument to honor these heroes.<br><br> It wasn 9t until 1988 4 25 years after the last troops came home 4 that a serious effort was made to honor these vet- erans. The Michigan Vietnam Monument was finally dedi- cated on Veterans Day 2001. Prominent among those who made it happen were UAW-DaimlerChrysler work- ers.<br><br> Among the most deter- mined were members of Sterling Stamping 9s UAW Local 1264 Veterans Committee 4 which, says Vice Chairman Tony Romero, has one of the largest contingents of veterans in the union. cIt was impor- tant to all of us that Vietnam veterans be recognized, d says Romero, a hi-lo driver who moved ammunition for the U.S. Army in Vietnam.<br><br> Committee member Ed Czarnecki agrees. cWhen they came back, they had nothing, d he says. Czarnecki, a retired machine operator and Army Vietnam veteran, recalls coming home to find anti-war protests.<br><br> cI couldn 9t believe what was going on, d he says. Kevin Balfour also has nega- tive memories. cWe fought under terrible conditions, d says Balfour, an electrician and former U.S.<br><br> Marine. cThen to come back to an unappreciative America 4 it was very sad. d For the veterans, the project was a chance to heal. cThe mon- ument makes us feel vindicated, d explains Balfour.<br><br> So when the statewide effort began, says UAW Local 1264 veterans committee Chairman Fred Pfeiffer, cWe jumped right on board. d Committee members excelled at fundraising. cOur vets have this knack for collecting funds, d says the local 9s president, Jesse Mitchell, an Army Vietnam vet- eran. cRaffles, dances, hat and pin sales 4 you name it. d Over 10 years, it added up.<br><br> cWe were the leading contribu- tor, d says Romero. cWe raised more than $15,000. d They didn 9t stop with fund- raising. Members took part in a motorcycle procession escort- ing beams to the monument site in Lansing, the state capi- tal.<br><br> cIt was the parade we never got, d recalls Pfeiffer, who drove his Ram as the chase vehicle. cPeople in Lansing lined the streets cheering. It gave me shivers. d After a decade of pushing, it 9s not surprising that the group was there for the dedi- cation ceremony.<br><br> cOur whole committee and our president went, d says Committee Treas- urer Bob Hoffmeyer Jr., a hi-lo driver and Vietnam-era veteran. cIt was completing 4 a somber and emotional day. d It was an opportunity to hear speeches affirming the contribu- tion of Vietnam veterans. It was also a chance to admire the structure they had worked so hard to build.<br><br> cIt 9s a focal point, d says Pfeiffer. cIt looks like it 9s suspended in midair, and when it is lit up at night, it 9s very, very moving. d Even though the memorial is finished, UAW Local 1264 hasn 9t flagged in its support. cNow we donate money for maintenance, d says Hoffmeyer.<br><br> cIt 9s all worth it. Every dime. Every hour we put into it.<br><br> Those memories won 9t be forgotten. d I 4 Karen English 4 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org HONORING MICHIGAN 9S VIETNAM VETS HONORING MICHIGAN 9S VIETNAM VETS Sterling Stamping workers help create a legacy Remembrance FROM LEFT: Mark Bliemeister, Kevin Balfour, Tony Romero, Ed Czarnecki, Fred Pfeiffer, Jesse Mitchell and Bob Hoffmeyer Jr. at the monument dedication. PHOTO COURTESY FRED PFEIFFER CAL TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2002 5 WORKERS IN THE GUARD AND RESERVES MUSTER FOR HOMELAND DEFENSE ANSWERING THE IN THE AFTERMATH OF SEPTEMBER 11, members of the National Guard and Reserves answered the roll call for Operation Noble Eagle, taking their places on the front lines of homeland defense.<br><br> These servicemen and women come from all walks of life. Those who interrupted jobs with UAW- DaimlerChrysler were more fortunate than many. In the days following 9/11, and since then, the UAW and DaimlerChrysler have taken a strong stand supporting workers called to active service by extending benefit coverage and short-term military duty pay.<br><br> Meet some coworkers who have answered the call. WORKERS IN THE GUARD AND RESERVES MUSTER FOR HOMELAND DEFENSE ANSWERING THE IN THE AFTERMATH OF SEPTEMBER 11, members of the National Guard and Reserves answered the roll call for Operation Noble Eagle, taking their places on the front lines of homeland defense. These servicemen and women come from all walks of life.<br><br> Those who interrupted jobs with UAW- DaimlerChrysler were more fortunate than many. In the days following 9/11, and since then, the UAW and DaimlerChrysler have taken a strong stand supporting workers called to active service by extending benefit coverage and short-term military duty pay. Meet some coworkers who have answered the call.<br><br> BY MOLLY ROSE TEUKE BY MOLLY ROSE TEUKE BACKGROUND: RANDY FARIS/CORBIS or a patriot with 17 years of part-time military duty behind her and just two years to retirement, being called to active duty was an eye-opener. Aware of the demand for military police in the Middle East, Staff Sgt. Sheila Hardemon realizes she could be deployed to distant lands.<br><br> For now, she 9s grateful to be close enough to home to occasionally see her daughter and three young grandchildren. Hardemon, 42, is stationed with the 1776th Military Police Company at Fort Meade, Md. She sometimes works at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, but her pri- mary job is access control at Fort Meade, a 5,415-acre complex with 40,000 people coming in and out daily.<br><br> One of the surprising aspects of active duty for Hardemon is the training 4 weapons training, land navi- gation skills, law and order, and physical conditioning. One skill she 9s going to be happy to take back to her job is verbal judo. cIt 9s about getting your point across with minimum force, d she says.<br><br> cI 9m not saying I didn 9t know how to talk to people before 4 I did 4 but people come in here with a lot of different personalities and attitudes, and you learn a lot from that. d Hardemon appreciates getting a taste of active duty, but she 9s looking forward to getting back to enjoying her job at DaimlerChrysler and her new house. Meanwhile, she says, cThere 9s satisfaction in serving your country. d SHEILA HARDEMON Security Supervisor, DaimlerChrysler Technology Center Army National Guard Operation Noble Eagle: March 14, 2002 3March 13, 2003 (or beyond) 6 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org F TOP: DAVID DEAL, RIGHT: BILL SCHWAB ED GINGRAS (Gingras was at a classified location and therefore unavailable for a photo.) Loader, Boston Parts Distribution Center UAW Local 422 Army National Guard 3 Alpha Company: 1-181 Infantry Operation Noble Eagle: Oct. 3, 2001 3Oct.<br><br> 5, 2002 Prior active duty: 1988 31992 gt. 1st Class Ed Gingras and his platoon of infantry soldiers were thrown into a mission they didn 9t anticipate. Trained for combat, they were assigned instead to security duty at U.S.<br><br> Army Soldier Systems Natick, an Army research and development facility in Massachusetts. cIt 9s two different mentali- ties, d says Gingras. cIt 9s not so easy adapt- ing infantry skills to base security work. d Gingras and his troops patrol the 75- acre base, which has special security con- cerns because it 9s located in a civilian area.<br><br> Duties entail incident and emergency response, screening visitors, searching vehicles and maintaining 24/7 watch. Normally, Gingras would have a full complement of support staff to handle transportation, food, medical care, paper- work and logistical planning. But Opera- tion Noble Eagle is anything but business as usual.<br><br> cThe bottom line is that it makes me a better NCO [non-commissioned offi- cer] because now I know how all these things get accomplished, d he says. Gingras, 32, is stationed 45 miles from home, but as platoon sergeant, he 9s re- sponsible for his soldiers at all times. That means he gets home for only a few days each month, just enough to track how fast his toddler, Eddie, is growing.<br><br> Yet, he loves the work. cMy troops think Sgt. G can make anything happen, and I have to live up to that.<br><br> Sure, you 9re doing it for your country, but I 9m respon- sible for my soldiers and I feel very pro- tective of my troops, d he says. iven the post 39/11 shortage of military police, Staff Sgt. Harold cMal d Forys holds a job that lands him in the center of homeland defense.<br><br> As a security police trainer with the 127th Security Forces Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Mount Clemens, Mich., Forys trains soldiers who are then de- ployed worldwide. In fact, Forys himself could be deployed at any time, which he sees as the one downside to his present service. For now, he 9s close enough to home that he commutes.<br><br> cBut it 9s tough not knowing how long I 9ll be serving, or whether we 9ll get deployed and where, d he says, cand the uncertainty is hard on family and friends. d Forys, 54, teaches a range of security skills to soldiers, covering everything from how to search an occupied building and how to handle traffic stops to weapons training, personal protection and chemical, biological and nuclear safeguarding. Most of his time is spent researching and developing curriculum for classroom teach- ing. He 9s also written and narrat- ed a video on building searches.<br><br> cThe military has been a re- warding career, d Forys says. cSep- tember 11 hasn 9t made it much different. I 9ve believed in the mili- tary all along and now it 9s time to pay my dues.<br><br> It 9s my way of helping my country. d Editor 9s note: As we went to press, Forys was deployed overseas to an undisclosed location, and his tour of duty extended through Sept. 30, 2003. TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2002 7 MAL FORYS Coordinator for Photographic Services, DaimlerChrysler Technology Center UAW Local 412 Air National Guard Operation Noble Eagle: Oct.<br><br> 1, 2001 3Sept. 30, 2003 Prior active duty: 1969 31971 G S 8 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org mdr. Robert Rolf was tapped for active duty because of his familiarity with a particular installa- tion, the Naval Air Warfare Center Orlando.<br><br> Some 1,100 people work on the 50-acre Florida complex, where classified research and development are conducted on avi- ation warfare and simulation technology. Just days after September 11, Rolf became the facility 9s Force Protection and Anti-Terrorism Officer for Homeland Defense 4 a full-time job that didn 9t exist prior to the terrorist attacks. Within 48 hours of receiving the call, he was on his way.<br><br> cYou wanted to do something, and the need was in our own backyard, d Rolf says. cBasically, we were helping to lock down the United States. d The most unnerving step in the process was the flight down to Florida. cThere was no one there [at the Atlanta Airport], and nobody knew what was next, d he recalls.<br><br> cI was one of six people on the plane 4 there were more flight attendants than passengers. d Rolf immediately had 45 people under his command. cBecause of the shortage of personnel, they said, 8Here, this is what you 9ve been practicing for all these years. Go do it, 9 d he says.<br><br> His days consisted of monitoring classified message traffic, overseeing daily armed security staffing on a 24/7 watch and coordinating with local and federal law enforcement agencies. cWhat we were doing took a revis- iting of things that were done 60 years ago, d he says. cWe hadn 9t experienced anything like this since Pearl Harbor. d It was tough leaving his wife and two teenage daughters behind 4 he saw them only once in seven months, when they came to visit at Thanksgiving.<br><br> Like most military spouses, Sharon Rolf supported her husband 9s decision to serve, even though he was close to military retirement. cDo what you 9ve got to do, d she told him, cbut promise me you 9ll retire when you 9re done. d Rolf has nominated DaimlerChrysler President and CEO Dieter Zetsche for a Department of Defense award for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve for Zetsche 9s swift action in pledging wage and benefit support to workers serving temporary post 39/11 duty. BOB ROLF Maintenance Area Manager, Huntsville Electronics Naval Reserve, Naval Air Station, Atlanta, Ga.<br><br> Operation Noble Eagle: Sept. 20, 2001 3April 9, 2002 Prior active duty: 1971 31973, 1980 31985 C TOP: MARK BONDERENKO, RIGHT: BILL SCHWAB TONI SPENCER Housekeeping, DaimlerChrysler Technology Center UAW Local 412 Army National Guard Operation Noble Eagle: Feb. 4 3June 22, 2002 Prior active duty: 1988 31995 gt.<br><br> Toni Spencer felt a poignant tug on her heartstrings when she was called to serve at Detroit 9s Light Guard Armory, where five separate Guard units are trained. Several weeks earlier, her 13-year- old daughter, Destiny, had written a letter to her grandmother, con- templating what she 9d do if she lost her mother. cThat made it harder to go, d says Spencer, a single parent, cbut I told her that when I joined, it was to pro- tect my country, and that sometimes you have to do things because you will always have that feeling that you made a difference. d Spencer, 32, was stationed close to home and commuted, which meant she saw her daughter most evenings and weekends.<br><br> Still, thanks to long days and uncertain demands, she left Destiny in the care of the girl 9s grandparents for the duration of her active service. The first couple of months were unnerving for Spencer, whose 1072nd Maintenance Company performed security duty. cYou didn 9t know the faces of the people who came to work every day, d she says, cand sometimes you wondered, were they telling the truth?<br><br> You always had your guard up because once you get to that tight security point, anything can happen. d Despite the constant vigilance required on duty, Spencer says, she 9s never regretted her decision to serve. cIt 9s something to be proud of. d I S TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2002 9 10 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org STANLEY CYDEJKO United W e S t a n d UAW- DaimlerChrysler workers answer the challenge of 9/11 TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2002 11 Week Two at Ground Zero At Center Line Parts Distribution Center, Stanley Cydejko decided to make it personal. Just after September 11, Cydejko began hearing of local efforts to supply needed skilled work- ers for the relief and rescue effort in New York City.<br><br> The UAW Local 1248 member quickly made a decision. He and three friends from outside the plant contacted disaster coordinators at Ground Zero and signed on to help. cWe said we were willing to do any- thing they needed us to do, d he says.<br><br> Cydejko, a millwright and 17-year plant veteran, requested and received a leave from his job, and on the Monday after the attacks, he and his group were in New York. cThey would only allow us to stay there for a week, d Cydejko says, cbecause they wanted fresh help on a weekly basis. d When they arrived, these Michigan volunteers didn 9t realize they were traveling in what had become one of the stricken city 9s most desperate needs: pickup trucks. cThey had all T The terrorist attacks of September 11 galvanized the nation and altered the course of world history.<br><br> Their aftermath brought out the best qualities in many people around the country, among them DaimlerChrysler workers, whose strength, tenacity and ingenuity were there when the need was greatest. From Ground Zero to the West Coast, workers helped organize tributes, vigils and donation drives that showed their depth of concern. As it was at many locations, in Toledo the call to band together was answered by workers who placed $100 bills and $500 checks in collection baskets outside plant gates.<br><br> cI cried when I was going through our money and found all of these checks and donations that people gave with so much caring and so much emotion, d says Ann Varner of Toledo North Assembly 9s education department and UAW Local 12 member, who spearheaded the effort that raised more than $10,000 for the American Red Cross. Story by Bob Ourlian Black & White Photographs by John Sobczak ANN VARNER REUTERS/POOL/NY TIMES Volunteers pass supplies for Manhattan rescue work. these donated supplies that were being brought into the city, d Cydejko says, cbut given how congested the city was, there was no way for the firefighters and police officers to come and get the stuff that they needed, like respirators, work shoes, boots and safety gear. d So Cydejko and his group would load up their pickups for supply shut- tles to Ground Zero or to the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, where attack debris was being sorted.<br><br> cEvery day, these guys would have to come in, and they didn 9t reuse any clothing, d Cydejko recalls. cThey had to have fresh clothing. d For up to 14 hours a day, for seven hectic days, Cydejko and his 2000 Dodge pickup were a wel- come sight at workstations. For the first several days, Cydejko 9s group camped in the basement of Glad Tidings Tabernacle, a base of operations for volunteers about two miles from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.<br><br> After that, a hotel owner donated rooms for volunteers. On Thursday of that week, Cydejko answered a call to help steelworkers at Ground Zero by wielding a cutting torch to clear beams and remove debris in what was still a desperate quest. cEven at that point, they were still looking for survivors, d he says.<br><br> cThat was something that kept them going, knowing there might be sur- vivors in there still. d And the view from Ground Zero? cWhatever you saw on TV, it didn 9t do justice to the magnitude of destruction that was down there, d says Cydejko. Cydejko had left his wife, Marlene, back home in Sterling Heights, Mich., where the couple have three grown children and three younger, adopted children, who are among the 47 foster children the Cydejkos have cared for over the years.<br><br> cThey figured after we worked 12 to 14 hours a day for a week, we 9d be exhausted, d Cydejko says. So a week later, now changed forever, he returned to his family and to his former life. Cross-Country Helping Hands At the same time, Marysville Parts Distribution Center millwright Jim Ashbaugh had a sizable impact on the relief effort without leaving his plant or his hometown of Marine City, Mich.<br><br> The father of two and member of UAW Local 375 heard from his wife, Maryann, that there was an effort underway at a local grocery store to collect needed relief goods. Maryann pitched in and so did Jim, calling on a longtime family friend for help. That friend, Mary Gave, operates Down- river Helping Hands, a well- known Marine City charity that provides furniture, food and clothing to families in need.<br><br> cEverybody at the time was doing whatever they could, d says Ashbaugh. cIt was neighbors and nieces and nephews and cousins. Everybody who had a truck got involved.<br><br> It just snow- balled and it ended up being load after load of stuff for the people in New York. There was water, food, masks, shovels 4 everything you could think of. d Downriver Helping Hands 4 where Jim and his wife already spent time volunteering 4 served as a col- lection center. cIt was a really great effort, d recalls Gave.<br><br> cA lot of peo- ple, including myself, got involved in collecting for September 11. And because of that, people were inclined to be so generous. d But when the volunteers realized they had collected far more than a carload, they were stumped as to how to get it to the rescue workers. Then they heard stories of goods being taken to New York only to be left on street corners 3 4 a fate Ashbaugh did not want for his effort.<br><br> What better way to guarantee the 12 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org PAT LAROCCA CORBIS The U.S. flag flies at half-staff on Sept. 17, 2001, at the World Trade Center in New York.<br><br> The U.S. flag flies at half-staff on Sept. 17, 2001, at the World Trade Center in New York.<br><br> shipment, he thought, than to send it straight from Marysville PDC to New York PDC. cWe ship parts all over the country as a parts distribu- tion center, d says Ashbaugh. cIt 9s what we do. d So he spoke to his plant mainte- nance supervisor, Mike Goforth, who made inquiries and sent Ashbaugh to shipping clerk Pat LaRocca, then a member of UAW Local 889 and now a member of Local 375.<br><br> cJim was wonderful. He organized that whole thing, d recalls LaRocca. cHe even brought all the donations in here, and he had the guys in maintenance put it in boxes.<br><br> And the amount of stuff he got 4 Oh my God! d Unknown to many, Ashbaugh harbored an extra motive to get personally involved in fighting the War on Terrorism at home: At the time of the attacks, his son Jeffery was at boot camp as a U.S. Marine Corps enlistee. cThat made it a bit more scary for us, d Ashbaugh says.<br><br> But it was LaRocca who had to find an available truck to take the eight shipping crates 4 each one more than 100 cubic feet. And she did. The 48-foot truck she was able to tap for the relief supplies was soon dubbed the cFriendship Truck. d When the crates arrived at New York PDC, stock people and UAW Local 260 plant committee officials were stunned at the amount collected, recalls Bruce Ladrick, UAW PQI facilitator at New York PDC.<br><br> What 9s more, each of the carefully packed crates carried a note with a large heart and the words: cTo the family and friends who have lost a loved one in the ter- rorist attack.& Our hearts, prayers and thoughts are with you, of you, and for you. We share your pain. d Writing in the New York PDC newsletter about the shipment, PQI Communicator Steven Pearce captured the feelings of UAW-DaimlerChrysler workers at every location who were so quick to extend a helping hand: cIt is this kind of thoughtfulness from a facility so far away that made me feel like they were right around the corner from us. d I JIM ASHBAUGH Veterans Weigh In We asked some veterans to share their thoughts about the War on Terrorism. Alan D.<br><br> Opra Gauge Runner, Detroit Axle; chairman of UAW Local 961 veterans committee U.S. Marine Corps, 1981 386, Beirut 1983 The first thing that went through my mind when I saw the attack on the World Trade Center was Beirut [the 1983 attack on the U.S. Marine barracks].<br><br> I had left the barracks just a few hours before it was blown up, but went right back to search through the rubble. The September 11 attacks reminded me of the crater in Beirut, but on a much larger scale. The main difference is the loss of all those innocent lives.<br><br> Richard Magner, Awarded Purple Heart Retired Inspector, Newark Assembly Marine Corps, 1967 371, Vietnam 1967 368 Maryland Army National Guard, 1976 393 I hope they take better care of the veter- ans or soon-to-be veterans of this con- flict. In the past, the government took care of you in active service but forgot about you when you got out. I 9d like to see them bring the pay scale for active duty more in line with private industry.<br><br> I 9d like to see the state governments do more to take care of things for people in the National Guard while they are away. Ramiro Alvarez Jitney Driver, Toledo Machining Ohio Army National Guard, 1980 3present A lot of people don 9t like to get called up, but I 9m ready to serve my country. Because of 9/11, MPs are depleted so we [the National Guard] are filling in.<br><br> In January, I 9m going to Panama to provide security. It 9s not an easy war because you don 9t really know who you are fighting 4 you don 9t exactly have a face. John Romanowich Warehouse Supervisor, Dallas Parts Distribution Center U.S.<br><br> Army, VIetnam, 1969 370 We should have done something a lot sooner, but we should definitely do some- thing. It seems like Korea was different from World War II, and Vietnam was dif- ferent from Korea. This one will be differ- ent again, but we shouldn 9t hesitate now.<br><br> TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2002 13 REUTERS/MIKE SEGAR Crews of firefighters, rescue workers and volun- teers gather near a portion of the collapsed remains of World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 14, 2001. ONE STERLING HEIGHTS ASSEMBLY TOLEDO ASSEMBLY PLANTS STERLING HEIGHTS ASSEMBLY TOLEDO ASSEMBLY PLANTS 14 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org NATION This collage of photographs, contributed by some locations, salutes the patriotism of all UAW-DaimlerChrysler workers.<br><br> TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2002 15 BELVIDERE ASSEMBLY STERLING HEIGHTS ASSEMBLY BELVIDERE ASSEMBLY STERLING HEIGHTS ASSEMBLY BELVIDERE ASSEMBLY STERLING HEIGHTS ASSEMBLY BELVIDERE ASSEMBLY STERLING HEIGHTS ASSEMBLY OUR ANNUAL TRIBUTE to UAW-DaimlerChrysler veterans spans the decades, every branch of military service and DaimlerChrysler locations across America. These are just a few of the hundreds of heroes among us. MICHAEL MERTZ HERO ES among us 16 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org BY S.C.<br><br> BIEMESDERFER fter the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941, 17- year-old Ray Leslie of Port Huron, Mich., desperately wanted to volunteer for the U.S. Army. His father wouldn 9t sign the permission slip for him to go to war, so young Leslie guarded bridges and tunnels along the Canadian border for the Michigan State Guard .<br><br> A year later, he enlisted. Within three months, he was bound for Italy. A few days later, he was in the thick of battle at enemy lines, serving as a rifle- man and a BAR-man for the 135th Infantry Regiment of the famous 34th Division, 5th Army.<br><br> cI was what they called a BAR- man because I shot a Browning Automatic Rifle, d says Leslie, 77. As the Germans waged fierce counter- attacks against U.S. troops in Feb- ruary 1944, Leslie took several shrapnel wounds to the knee but refused to leave his post to get med- ical care.<br><br> cI didn 9t want to leave the guys, d recalls Leslie, cso I stayed there and did what I could 4 threw grenades and kept on shooting. d Leslie was hit again in the shoulder and chest; he positioned himself behind a rock in the crossfire as bul- lets chipped away at his makeshift cover. As the day wore on, one of those bullets struck Leslie in the ankle. All told, he was wounded in nine places and survived 24 hours before undergoing surgery.<br><br> Leslie returned with military honors, including a Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman 9s Badge. He began working in the Marysville Paint Shop in 1966 and retired in 1983. TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2002 17 Ray C.<br><br> Leslie Ray C. Leslie Job: Paint Shop (ret.) Marysville Parts Distribution Center UAW Local 375 hen Michael Bethel learned of the September 11 terror- ist attacks, he was already in uniform, ready for action. Bethel and his fellow U.S.<br><br> Army reservists were on maneuvers at Fort Polk in Louisiana at the time, training for a mission to Kosovo, Yugoslavia. And for a while, it looked like their orders might change. cIt was pretty intense, d says Bethel, who 9s been a reservist since 1990.<br><br> cWe were on alert at Threatcon Delta, and it felt like anything could happen. d A few weeks later, as other U.S. troops were dispatched to Afghanistan, Bethel 9s 2175th Military Police Company was deployed to Kosovo. For seven months, the soldiers patrolled the region as a part of ongoing peacekeeping efforts there.<br><br> Although they had to con- tend with rioting Serbian and Albanian factions, as well as extreme cold and snow, they were bolstered by a new perspective on their role in national and international security. cIt felt good to be doing something for the country, d says Bethel, who, as we went to press, was scheduled for a reservist mission to Italy. cWe were all reminded of how important it is to protect people 9s freedoms. d 18 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org ohn Tinsley explains more than 15 years of service in three branches of the U.S.<br><br> military in short order. cIt 9s just something that 9s inside of me, d he says. And he 9s felt that way for a long time.<br><br> This Marine-turned-Navy reservist-turned-Army National Guardsman first wore a uniform as an ROTC student in junior high. With his parents 9 consent, he enlisted at age 17 in the Marine Corps. Tinsley served as an infantryman in the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines for seven years, then as a communications instructor at Camp Pendleton, Calif., for two years, before signing on with a Marine Reserve unit in 1989.<br><br> He was called to active duty in 1990 and 1991 during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, serving with a sup- port unit that traveled to Japan, Korea and the Philippines as part of the 1st Battalion, 24th Marines. From 1994 to 1997, he served as a Navy reservist; in early 2002, he signed on with the Michigan Army National Guard. cI gave the decision a lot of thought after September 11, d says Tinsley, who 9s worked at Marysville for the past nine years.<br><br> cI guess it 9s the esprit de corps that keeps me coming back 4 the great honor of serving our country. d John Tinsley Picker/Packer, Marysville Parts Distribution Center UAW Local 375 Michael Bethel Welder Repair, St. Louis South Assembly UAW Local 110 THIS PAGE: BILL SCHWAB, OPPOSITE PAGE ABOVE: BILL SCHWAB, BELOW: JAY BAKER illiam Jones was working at a South Carolina cotton mill in 1967 when the letter came say- ing that he 9d been drafted. cI thought they might pass me over for younger men, but I was committed to going, d says Jones, who was 25 years old at the time.<br><br> Soon he was Sgt. Jones in the U.S. Army, volunteering for high-risk ambush patrol in the midst of fire and fury in South Vietnam.<br><br> In January 1968, during the TET Offensive 4 a major battle that began as a surprise attack launched by the North Vietnamese 4 Jones found himself dodging artillery from all direc- tions as more than 75 men in his com- pany were killed or wounded. In a brutal battle that would eventually take hun- dreds of U.S. soldiers 9 lives and injure thousands more, Jones took charge.<br><br> He worked tirelessly to set up perimeters for medical choppers to come in and pick up his platoon 9s fallen soldiers, never stop- ping despite relentless enemy attacks. cAt the time, I just saw it as my job, but when I came home, they gave me a medal, d says Jones, who was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for courage in combat. After his tour of duty ended in 1969, he moved to Detroit with his wife and began working for DaimlerChrysler.<br><br> Jones plans to retire in August 2004; then he has a trip planned. cI 9m going to Washington, D.C., to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, d he says. cI have some people to say hello to there.<br><br> I saw a lot of brave men die, and I 9m going to pay my respects. d TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2002 19 hen you drive an artillery piece for a living, you can get pretty comfortable with how world-class vehicles work and move. So you might say that Jerome Burton 9s transition from the U.S. Army to DaimlerChrysler was a natural fit.<br><br> Before he began working on the line at Jefferson North Assembly eight years ago, Sgt. Burton built a 13-year career with the Army 9s 17th Field Artillery Brigade, 3rd Battalion and 2nd Calvary Regiment. His specialty was driving 4 and firing from 4 an artillery piece.<br><br> During Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, Burton spent six months in the Middle East, where he drove and served as the No. 1 cannoneer for an M109 Self- Propelled Howitzer artillery piece. cOur mission was to drive toward Kuwait, and we had some pretty rough fights with Iraq 9s Republican Guard, especially at the Iraq 3Kuwait border, d recalls Burton.<br><br> After Kuwait was liberated and the Gulf War ended, Burton 9s unit returned to Iraq to enforce the cease-fire. In 1994, his term of service ended, and he began working for DaimlerChrysler. William M.<br><br> Jones Polish Repair, Warren Truck Assembly UAW Local 140 Jerome Burton Assembler, Jefferson North Assembly UAW Local 7 20 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org Jerry Paul Grinder Operator, Kokomo Transmission UAW Local 685 THIS PAGE: JOHN SOBCZAK/LORIEN STUDIOS, OPPOSITE PAGE: LARRY LADIG hey say that life is what happens while you 9re busy making other plans, and I suppose that 9s quite true in my case, d says Jerry Paul. cOne minute I was a kid in Kokomo; the next I was in a chopper in Vietnam, with only a steel plate between me and a lot of bullets. d At age 20, the only steel Paul had given much thought to was that made in the local steel mill where he 9d worked part time. And the biggest plan on his mind was getting married, which he did about a month before he was drafted.<br><br> At first, the U.S. Army stationed Paul stateside, so he and his wife set up a home on the West Coast 4 just in time for him to receive his orders for Vietnam. He was told that he would probably be working as a heli- copter mechanic, but it didn 9t quite work out that way.<br><br> cI knew that the life expectancy on a medevac crew was about a week, but we were losing a lot of guys, d says Paul. cSo I signed on. d Paul became a helicopter crew chief for the 498th cDust-Off d Medical Evacuation. They were the soldiers who did the work no one else dared to do, flying into combat zones to evacuate the wounded, almost always under enemy fire.<br><br> More than once, Paul 9s chopper was shot down in hostile terri- tory. But Paul was never wounded, and he 9s proud to say that he never lost a patient. His military honors include the Army 9s prestigious Air Medal Award for Meritorious Achievement.<br><br> But more than the medals, he treasures a poem his daughter, Summer, wrote about his time in Vietnam. As the poem says in one especially poignant line, for Paul cthe journey was uncertain, but the memories are still clear. d TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2002 21 red Hunter doesn 9t see much difference between serving in the regu- lar U.S. Navy and the Naval Reserves.<br><br> cWe all prepare ourselves to do the job, d he says. cWhen it comes to fire situations, we are all in the same boat. d And Hunter should know. After spending a stint in Vietnam, loading shells in his ship 9s powder room, Hunter came home, started a 38-year career at DaimlerChrysler, and eventually joined the Naval Reserves 4 and that was nearly two decades ago.<br><br> cIt 9s become part of my life, and I love it, d he says. cI have almost as much involvement as I had in Vietnam. d For Hunter, that involvement included strategic support during both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom at NAS Sigonella in Sicily, Italy. The 1st Class Storekeeper is especially proud that, during Desert Storm, his Reserve unit was activated early.<br><br> cIt 9s the only time they called Reserves right off the bat in a war, d he says. By the time Hunter 9s unit got back to Sigonella just a few days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the strategic base was on high alert. cWe are con- sidered the hub of the Mediterranean, d he says, cso we always have to worry about terrorism. d As in Desert Storm, the Reserves proved they were ready.<br><br> cEverybody was pulling together, d says Hunter, who returned to his DaimlerChrysler job in mid-September. cI 9m proud they looked at us Reserves as a big part of the operation. d Hunter is grateful for the support at home. cI don 9t think the leaders of the UAW and DaimlerChrysler get enough credit for supporting the armed forces, d he says.<br><br> cFor me, the people in this facility keep my spirits up. d As the War on Terrorism continues, Hunter knows that he could be called back at any time. cI know I 9m here to do the job, d he says. His level of long-term commitment has not gone unnoticed.<br><br> After his latest stint in Operation Enduring Freedom, Hunter was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal. Says Hunter. cIt makes me even more proud to serve my country. d 4 By Karen English Fred Hunter Warranty Tech, Sterling Heights Vehicle Test Center UAW Local 140 When it comes to pride in military service, Kokomo Casting is no differ- ent from any other location.<br><br> Workers everywhere are proud of those who served their country. And in every plant, there are many workers who have served. But of Kokomo 9s 1,200 workers, more than 200 are Vietnam veterans, and nearly 100 more have served in conflicts ranging from World War II to the War on Terrorism.<br><br> With about one in four workers who 9ve seen active duty, it 9s no won- der that Kokomo Casting regularly pays tribute to a cVeteran of the Month. d PQI Trainer Doran Gwyn, himself a veteran of the U.S. Army 9s elite 82nd Airborne Division Aviation Battalion, says, cWe have so many veterans from various conflicts. It 9s truly an honor to know so many coworkers who served their country. d Tomorrow salutes the entire Kokomo contingent, including these veterans: 22 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org THE KOKOMO CONTINGENT t 9s the only lottery I ever won, d says Stephen Nudge, as he recalls being drafted by the U.S.<br><br> Army in June 1970. The Indiana, Penn., native had been working and going to college part time, and was well aware of the tens of thousands of American casualties overseas. More than half a million U.S.<br><br> soldiers had already been deployed to Vietnam, and antiwar sentiment in America had reached new heights, but it would be three more years before a peace accord was signed in January 1973 4 and five more before Saigon would fall. cIt was a tense time, and I 9d heard so many stories about how it was over there, d says Nudge. cBut it was my duty to go. d Spc.<br><br> 4th Class Nudge served with the Americal Infantry Division that faced heavy fighting in South Vietnam combat zones where U.S. troops were most entrenched. He worked on the Chinook helicopters that carried troops, supplies and artillery to the battlefields, doing whatever he could for his company in the heat of battle.<br><br> cI was a mechanic; I was a door gunner; I just did what needed to be done, d says Nudge, who has worked at Kokomo Casting for six years. cI got to know some brave men who never came home 4 they are the heroes, in my book. d e fought on ships that were blown up; he was the gunner on transport helicop- ters; he spearheaded air missions under intense enemy fire. He received some of the military 9s highest honors during his tour of duty with the U.S.<br><br> Army 9s 1st Aviation Brigade in Vietnam. Yet when you talk to him about it all, Kokomo 9s Larry Parsley has his heroism in perspective. cOnce I got there, I thought I might as well do what I could, d says Parsley, who was drafted in late 1965.<br><br> cI knew that being a gunner was hazardous duty, but all of it was, really, so I volunteered for it. d In February 1967, Parsley led an air assault on a Viet Cong stronghold, then braved both enemy bullets and mortar attacks to airlift wounded soldiers, resupply besieged troops with much-needed ammunition, and administer first aid to a wounded crew member. For his fearlessness and valor, Parsley received a total of 12 Air Medals for Heroism and Meritorious Achievement. He has worked at Kokomo Casting for 35 years.<br><br> Stephen Nudge Safety Supervisor, Kokomo Casting Larry W. Parsley Sr. Die Cast Troubleshooter, Kokomo Casting UAW Local 1166 TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2002 23 THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE PAGE: LARRY LADIG is days as a soldier officially ended in 1967, but one last piece of Spc.<br><br> 4th Class Jerry Fivecoate 9s Vietnam experience finally fell into place this year. After 35 years, Fivecoate 9s U.S. Army dog tag was returned 4 thanks to the efforts of his daughter Julie Tracy, who tracked it down through an organization called Tours of Peace (TOP) Vietnam Veterans.<br><br> As it turns out, someone from TOP found Fivecoate 9s dog tag in Hoi An, Vietnam, where Fivecoate was stationed at one point during his tour of duty with the 2nd Howitzer Battery, 11th Armored Cavalry. cI don 9t remember losing it, d says Fivecoate, who 9s worked at Kokomo Casting for 10 years. cBut then again, I had a lot on my mind at the time. d Foremost on Fivecoate 9s mind was field artillery.<br><br> His job was to compute and program firing data for artillery guns 4 the charge and range needed based on the target 4 from various battle loca- tions, often under fire. cThis was before they used computers to do the work, d explains Fivecoate. cI did it using a slide rule, so at times, in the middle of battle, it was quite a challenge. d In addition to Julie, Fivecoate has two other daughters and a son, Gerald Fivecoate Jr., who also works at Kokomo Casting.<br><br> I Gerald Fivecoate Sr. Electrician, Kokomo Casting, UAW Local 1166, with daughter Julie Tracy 24 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org B y day Miguel A. Roldan repairs trucks and trailers at DaimlerChrysler Transport.<br><br> It 9s his job to get the big rigs back on the road, so maybe it 9s only nat- ural that he wants to do the same for troubled veterans who, for whatever reason, have hit too many bumps on their way in civilian life. Roldan, 52, is one of the organiz- ers of the Southeast Michigan Stand Down Committee, which helps out hundreds of needy veterans annually. cI first got involved in this in 1990, d he says.<br><br> cIt started with getting pledges of supplies, assistance and grants, and getting volunteers from various places to help out. The work has paid off. Now we are reaching hundreds of people. d Like Roldan, Roger Bogel, who served in the U.S.<br><br> Navy from 1967 to 1970, has been involved in the Stand Downs from the beginning. Now president of UAW Local 212, Bogel finds a lot of satisfaction in volunteer- ing. cSome of these people need help as a result of things they have seen, d he says, cmaybe [they have] problems as a result of military duty.<br><br> If we can help just one person, help change one life, then it 9s worth it. d The group 9s efforts have been rec- ognized with several honors, and DaimlerChrysler Transport recently received a UAW Region 1 Veterans Council award for its support of the Stand Downs. Roldan, a 30-year member of the UAW and vice chair- man of the UAW Region 1 Veterans Committee, says that the recognition is affirming, but not as rewarding as helping someone. cWe can 9t do enough for the veterans, d Roldan says.<br><br> cThey deserve our respect, our thanks and a helping hand if they need it. d Calling that helping hand a cStand Down d is significant. Explains Rodan, cIn war, when you come out of the jungle, you 9re covered with mud and just about everything imaginable. You 8stand down 9 4 get cleaned up, have a good meal and collect yourself both physically and mentally 4 before making your next move.<br><br> That 9s what we are trying to do here. d Roldan served in Vietnam in the U.S. Army 9s elite 101st Special Forces Eagles in 1971, but was sent home after being wounded. Still, he says he 9s lucky.<br><br> Both of his brothers have had chronic ailments since returning from their tours in Vietnam. Knowing firsthand the hardships that veteranscan face has made Roldan and other Stand Down supporters even more determined, and the one-day event has attracted the help of numer- ous volunteers from national and local organizations like the UAW, the U.S. Marines, the National Guard and the John D.<br><br> Dingell Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Detroit. Many volunteers are not veterans themselves. Ric Cummings never wore a uniform, but the UAW Local 212 member and diesel mechanic at DaimlerChrysler Transport has been actively involved in past Stand Downs.<br><br> cI believe those guys did so much for our country that they can 9t be forgot- ten, d says Cummings. c[Roldan] is so passionate, it just draws you in. The first year was quite an eye-opener for me, but by the end of the day you feel good about giving back to them. d Last year, volunteers like Cummings were disappointed when Detroit 9s Light Guard Armory, which hosted the annual October event, was on alert and off limits in the wake of September 11.<br><br> But this year, Operation Stand Down found a home nearby at the former Warren Tank Plant. There, volunteers set up tents to process an estimated 500 homeless, many of them veterans, identified as in need of help by shelters around southeast Michigan. cAbout 300 of them are people who served in the military, d Roldan says.<br><br> cBut we aren 9t going to turn away any homeless person. d That help includes medical and dental exams, haircuts and job coun- seling. Volunteers determine if any of the needy are eligible for government benefits, and some will be provided with identification and assistance in filling out employment applications. But the immediate support is more Taking a Stand Workers reach out to needy veterans cThey [veterans] deserve our respect, our thanks and a helping hand if they need it. d Serving Veterans in Need basic.<br><br> Each person is given a hot meal and offered a cgoodie bag d consisting of clothing and everyday personal care items most of us take for granted. cSome of these people have noth- ing 4 nothing, d stresses Roldan. cWhen they leave here they have some clothing, maybe some pants, a jacket, pajamas, a hat.<br><br> Even boots, long underwear and a sleeping bag. And for some of them, with winter coming on, it might make the difference between life and death. d The clothing comes from dona- tions to the Veterans Administration, some of it military issue. The per- sonal items come courtesy of the UAW, and DaimlerChrysler Trans- port supplies trucks for storage and transport of donations.<br><br> Roldan is currently planning to help train veterans committee members at other UAW locals on how to oper- ate Stand Downs elsewhere. cWe are trying to get some of these guys back on their feet, d he says, cand not only give them a hand but give them a hand up. d I 4 By Mike Martindale For information on organizing a Stand Down at your UAW local, contact your UAW region 9s veterans council (in Michigan, call 313.576.3345). TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2002 25 JOHN SOBCZAK/LORIEN STUDIOS FROM LEFT: Ric Cummings, Miguel Roldan and Roger Bogel 26 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org One offshoot of last year 9s terrorist attacks was a resurgence of patriot- ism.<br><br> Suddenly, Old Glory could be seen flying everywhere. But months later, many of those flags had seen better days, with their colors fading and fabric beginning to tatter. That 9s where Hector Flores Sr., chairman of the veterans committee at Toledo 9s UAW Local 12, steps in.<br><br> Most people know they shouldn 9t simply toss a worn-out American flag in the trash 4 but they don 9t know what they should do. Flores, an accounting liaison at the local, works with committee members to make sure flags are disposed of properly in a retiring of flags ceremony. Appropriately, the committee arranged a ceremony last Flag Day.<br><br> cOne of our members made a big box and decorated it in red, white and blue, d says Flores. cWe put it in the Local 12 union hall and let people know they could drop off old flags there for proper disposal. d On June 14, the veterans committee teamed up with another veterans group for the actual ceremony. cThe flags were burned in a fire, and the ashes were scattered, d explains Flores.<br><br> cIt was all done in accordance with proper military procedure. d Flores served in the U.S. Army in the Panama Canal Zone from 1967 to 1970. Trained as a radio repairman, he ended up driving a truck.<br><br> Later, he was assigned to a Special Forces unit and became a paratrooper. At the same time, Flores had a brother in the U.S. Marine Corps and another in the Army, and they both did tours of duty in Vietnam.<br><br> Despite his family 9s outstanding contribution to the military and his overall positive experience, Flores did not get involved with veterans organizations for many years after he was honorably discharged. cWhen you get out of the service, you just want to get back to life, d he says. cLater on you realize you want to do something to help other vets and the community at large. d For Flores, it started with joining the American Legion and later getting involved with the veterans committee, at Toledo Jeep Assembly 9s UAW Local 12.<br><br> In both groups, says Flores, cWe 9d like to see more veterans, both men and women, getting involved. d And there 9s plenty for volunteers to do, beyond respectfully retiring flags. The group marches in parades, col- lects holiday gifts of toiletries for residents of the Old Soldiers and Sailors Home in nearby Sandusky, provides color guards for opening ceremonies at various functions, and conducts other events to support both veterans and the community. cOne thing we just started doing is offering other organizations a chance to buy a flag that has been flown in a plane during a military mission overseas, d says Flores.<br><br> The flags will be sent to a UAW Local 12 member who belongs to an Air National Guard fighter group, and he takes them up. And you can be sure that when those Stars and Stripes are faded and torn, Hector Flores and the veterans committee will be there to give them full military honors. I 4 Michael J.<br><br> McDermott Honor those who served by calling your UAW local for information on volunteering for the veterans committee. True Colors Vets Committee Chairman Hector Flores continues to serve his country Veterans Committee BILL SCHWAB N OVEMBER 11. IT 9S A DAY OF pride and remembrance, a day to pay special tribute to the brave men and women who have served 4 and who continue to serve 4 our country.<br><br> On Veterans Day, UAW locals and DaimlerChrysler facilities honor the veterans among us and remember those who are no longer with us. Tributes take many forms; here 9s a sampling from UAW- DaimlerChrysler locations. Jefferson North Assembly UAW Local 7 Jefferson North holds an annual luncheon to reflect on history, edu- cate members about the contribu- tions of veterans and pay tribute to individual vets.<br><br> In addition, each month a veteran from the plant is fea- tured in the cVeteran Salute Corner d of the plant newsletter. Kokomo Casting UAW Local 1166 2001 marked the first annual Veterans Day Ceremony for UAW Local 1166 members. Organized by the local 9s vet- erans committee, the event featured a dinner, prayer, sharing of friendship, and presentation of a plaque in honor of military service to Mayor Jim Trobaugh of Kokomo and mayoral assistant Dick Knight.<br><br> Marysville Parts Distribution Center UAW Local 375 Marysville PDC pays a yearly tribute to veterans on Marysville Network Television (know locally as MNT) with a special TargetVision slide show that showcases the military service of workers. DC TV Coordin- ator Derrick Froehlich has developed a veteran tribute every year since 1995. The yearly tribute airs at the plant each day for two weeks prior to the UAW-observed Veterans Day holiday and is featured on the NTC Web site.<br><br> Froehlich also plans to create Marysville-based national Mopar slides honoring veterans. Newark Assembly UAW Local 1183 Members of the veterans committee at the local take time on Veterans Day both individually and in small groups to honor those who have served. Some travel to New York City to view or participate in the Veterans Day parade.<br><br> Others decorate ceme- teries and display flags. After Veterans Day, they raise funds to help veterans at shelters and in Veterans Administration hospitals, as well as to buy turkeys to distribute to needy families at Thanksgiving. Sterling Stamping UAW Local 1264 This year, UAW Local 1264 members are dedicating a special tribute to all the workers from Sterling Stamping who have served (see cSide by Side d on page 2).<br><br> The dedication will be part of the local 9s annual Veterans Day observance. As always, the cere- mony will be followed by an open meeting at the union hall, during which food is served. Local 1264 will also continue to send two veterans from the plant floor to Washington, D.C., where they will meet up with members of other UAW locals, march in the city 9s Veterans Day parade and participate in service reunions.<br><br> This veterans committee stays busy all year. Many of their activities are related to fund raising that supports a needy local family for 12 months. Warren Truck Assembly UAW Local 140 The annual Veterans Day dinner at Warren Truck is in its sixth year.<br><br> Highlights at last year 9s event includ- ed an opening prayer, pledge of alle- giance and performance of a song dedicated to veterans. UAW Local 140 members are also active throughout the year, conducting fund raising and supporting veterans in numerous ways, from assisting in Stand Downs to passing out gifts to patients at a Veterans Admin- istration hospital. New Process Gear UAW Locals 624 and 2149 This year 9s annual Veterans Day observance will take place at the War Memorial in Syracuse, N.Y., erected thanks in large part to the efforts of the veterans committee at UAW Locals 624 and 2149.<br><br> The daylong event includes speakers and presen- tations of awards honoring those who have served our country. I 4 Jennifer Doll TOMORROW VETERANS DAY 2002 27 Time Out to Remember Marking Veterans Day at UAW locals and DaimlerChrysler facilities Observances Rachel Himebaugh Sheila Hardemon Michael Kiewski Bradley Waligura Robert Zbytowski Gregory Brooks Harold Forys Michael Eastridge Christopher Blackard David Crowninshield Eric Herdell Thomas Allport Paul Cook Thomas Cook Daniel Fultz Steve Mucha James Rondo Kurt Utich Ricky Williams David Copeland Steve Guerrette Donald Stowe James Gange Michael Taber Robert Aiken Jr. David Ferguson Andrew Schaen Linda Brown Virginia Stephens John Schokora Eric Johnson Robert Marchese Michael Mc Fadden Melvin Watkins Fredrick Hunter Guillermo Best John Bonner Helmut Cerino Rhonda Clegg Anthony Crews Nicole Garrett David Gillis Sheila Holmes Terry Jenne Andrea Kilgore Ivy Mitchell Randy Richard Donald Schrecongost Jr Gordon Starks Lawrence Watts Guy Wilson Michael Coil Michael Douglas Mark Farley Jason Forsythe Larry Lucas Erik Pickett David Rogers Janae St.<br><br> Amour Lydell Tinnon Eric Watters David Aldridge Jr. Andrew Bissinger Linnell Church Vaughn Thomas James Ware Jeffery Cluster Lenny Curtis Terence Franz Clifford Green Eric Harris Pharral Martin Charles Mills Guy Thomas Yvette Richardson Norris Ryan Frederick Stevens Bobby Lott William Russell Joseph Andrews Jonathan Ashby Phillip Davis Ronnie Deweese Samuel Kirkpatrick Carol Tyler Wayne White Len Williams Alfred Barrera Keith Burrell John Clayton Jr. Harold Hicks Albert Lepper Jr.<br><br> Dennis Winters Joyce Oakley Dean Regazzi Cynthia Taylor Henry Belcher Marc Jones Aaron Klein Michael Philips Mark Rebeaud Stephen Anderson James Candler Brian Harris Dwayne Patillo Marlo Thurlow Lois Achenbach Teresa Beck Laura Bissett Anthony Bitner Brian Dehaven Michael Denman Clifford Ellis Sylvia Gromko Michael Hall David Harris Karen Lank Bernard Loer Kenneth Zartman Carter Hanson Ronald Ball Trian Barnhill Charles Broomfield Danny Gross Angela Hutchins Alva Jackson Jr. William King Michael Miller Jerry Purnell James Townsend III Richard Tucker Gorky Zuniga John Donahue Alicia Jones Calvin Salladin William Towsley Chad Wiggins Tommy Stephens Stephen Dobbs Robert Kessler Jeffrey Rees Chris Ward Donald York Ricky Burditt Kevin Donnellon Roy Watkins Jack Williams Ramiro Alvarez Nathan Avery Wayne Bradfield Andrew Fausnaugh Christopher Frantz Martin Nielsen Gary Vanhorn Gloria Carruth Michael Cospy Gerald Grewell II Sonya Harris Bernard Minnick Theodore Perry Kelvin Reed Kevin Tomko Donald Cummings Richard De Rosia Andrew Stokes James Coltrane Robert Rolf Reginald Williamson Philip Reilly Vincent Messina George Vranich David Bridges Reginald Person Daniel Przewlocki Michelle Shepherd Glenn Warner UAW- DAIMLER CHRYSLER WORKERS ON MILITARY LEAVE AFTER 9/11 (AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2002) ROLLCALL ROLLCALL

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