Photo By Sgt. Edward Balaban | American Airlines Senior Vice President for Airline Services Tom Del Valle, left, is...... read more read more
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PHOENIX - The commanding general of the Arizona National Guard recognized American Airlines for their ongoing commitment to veterans, military personnel and their families at a ceremony held at Papago Park Military Reservation Jan. 21.
Tom Del Valle, senior vice president of American Airlines, was presented a National Guard Association Minuteman statue by Maj. Gen. Hugo E. Salazar, the adjutant general and commanding general of the Arizona National Guard.
The Minuteman is the iconic figure of the National Guard. The statue depicts a Revolutionary War era Citizen-Soldier standing next to his plow with musket rifle in hand. The National Guard is the nation’s oldest military force, tracing its beginnings back to 1636 when early settlers established a standing militia of men to protect the fledgling communities in the growing colonies of modern-day New England.
According to Col. Jeffrey Tipton, president of the National Guard Association of Arizona, “the presentation of the Minuteman statue is significant and reserved for persons or organizations that have clearly distinguished themselves by their selfless service, caring and generosity toward the troops and their families.”
Salazar lauded Del Valle for his organization’s support to the Arizona National Guard, all military components and their families. Salazar cited American Airlines’ sponsorship of the Snowball Express, a program that recognizes and remembers the families of the fallen, and the donation of airline style chairs to the Arizona Air National Guard’s 161st Air Refueling Wing’s KC-135R tankers.
Del Valle was also presented with the Employer Support of Guard and Reserves’ Seven Seals Award. This Department of Defense recognition, presented by ESGR State Chairman Emeritus Bill Valenzuela, cited Del Valle and American Airlines for their “ . . . meritorious leadership and initiative in support of the men and women who serve . . . ”
Arizona along with seven other states has nominated American Airlines for the 2011 Secretary of Defense Freedom Award. American Airlines previously won the Freedom Award in 1998. With more than 900 aircraft and over 82,000 employees, the Fort Worth, Texas, based airline has been identified as one of the top 100 military-friendly employers.
| Date Taken: | 01.21.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.21.2011 19:18 |
| Story ID: | 63972 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 139 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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