Caterpillar and Cat Dealer Support Local Military Members

Each year, college football teams across the nation dedicate games to branches of the U.S. military in events such as Military Appreciation Day, which is celebrated by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).  ACC member North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NCSU) hosted their Military Appreciation Day on September 22 against the military college of South Carolina, The Citadel. Employees from Caterpillar's Building Construction Products Division (BCP) and Cat dealer Gregory Poole Equipment Company joined forces to honor a group of ten North Carolina National Guard members and their families at the game.

BCP and Gregory Poole worked with the local North Carolina National Guard to invite the service members as their guests to the game. They hosted a special pre-game tailgate event, which included food, fun and Cat merchandise gifts. The football game featured a military flyover and salutes to active-duty soldiers, veterans and wounded warriors. A football field-sized United States flag was unfurled in front of the audience during the pregame ceremony as well.

"BCP and Poole both have many employees that are alumni of NCSU, and we also have a lot of veterans working for Caterpillar all over the United States," said Jason Becker, a BCP employee and organizer of the tailgate event. "When we noticed the Military Appreciation game on NCSU's football schedule, we thought it would be a great way to join in recognizing those that selflessly serve our country."

BCP employee and veteran John Janes also helped coordinate the event, serving as liaison to the local National Guard. Amazingly, John had actually served in Iraq with two of the men that attended the game and tailgate, and the three hadn't seen each other since their deployment ended:  "It was an incredible coincidence to be reunited with those two young men who I served with in combat. Everyone enjoyed the tailgate and appreciated the recognition from Caterpillar and Gregory Poole, as well as the ACC."

Along with John and Jason, organization of this event was coordinated by Bill Adams and Brad Rinderer of Gregory Poole who donated time and tickets to the game. Attendees from the National Guard were Capt. Scoggins, Sgt. Awan, Sgt. Thompson, Sgt. Fuller, Sgt. Fernandez, Sgt. Sharad, Sgt. Warren and Sgt. Gilbert. Thank you to all military men and women who serve our country!