WWII veteran to be guest of Army team in Phoenix
FORT KNOX, Ky. (Nov. 8, 2010) — More than 500 faces of military veterans will grace Ryan Newman’s No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet in Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. The special paint scheme serves as an extension of Veterans Day (Nov. 11), an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans.
The 500 plus faces on Newman’s Veterans Day car represent multiple generations of men and women who embraced the call of duty, dating back to the World War I era.
Among the photos submitted through www.goarmy.com was from World War II veteran and Arizona resident Luis Rodriguez Jr. who will attend Sunday’s race as a guest of the U.S. Army race team. Rodriguez, 85, served in the U.S. Army and was a member of the 118th General Hospital, a U.S. Army military hospital located in New South Wales, Australia. He is a resident of Sahuarita, Ariz. (15 miles south of Tucson).
“What a cool way for us to say ‘thank you’ and honor the veterans who have served our country and fought for our freedom,” said Newman, who won the April race in Phoenix. “This is the Soldiers’ car and having the faces of these brave men and women will be a great inspiration and powerful reminder of what it means to be Army Strong.”
Col. Derik Crotts, director of strategic communications, marketing and outreach, U.S. Army Accessions Command, added, “Every time Ryan Newman drives the No. 39 Chevrolet with the Army colors, he represents the more than one million men and women who proudly serve our Nation. For this race, with this paint scheme, we pay tribute to our heroes past and present and their families. Each picture, each face, is a reminder of the sacrifice and service of the millions who have made our Army strong and our nation free.”
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About U.S. Army Accessions Command
The U.S. Army Accessions Command (USAAC), a subordinate command of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, meets the human resource needs of the Army by transforming volunteers into officers, warrant officers, and enlisted Soldiers. In providing the force, the 20,730 men and women of Accessions Command prepare these future Soldiers and leaders for their initial military training. Commanded by Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, USAAC is located at Fort Knox, Ky.
