Chrysler Group to Commemorate World Trade Center Artifact on Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

• Piece of steel from the towers will be on permanent display at Company Headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.
• UAW/Chrysler Local 412 Veterans Committee ceremony will commemorate the artifact and honor those who lost their lives in the attacks
• Part of effort to deliver salvaged steel artifacts from the towers to local venues across the country and around the world

The UAW/Chrysler Local 412 Veterans Committee will hold a commemorative ceremony today dedicating a piece of steel from the World Trade Centers in honor of those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks.

This event is part of an effort by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to deliver salvaged steel artifacts from the World Trade Center to local venues throughout the country to mark the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, in which nearly 3,000 people lost their lives. The public agency has so far fulfilled more than 2,000 requests for pieces of steel from the towers which are displayed at venues in all 50 U.S. states and at locations as far away as China. Chrysler Group is one of the first for-profit companies to receive and display a piece of the twin towers.

"Chrysler Group is honored to be part of this sacred mission to create a profound and tangible reminder of that tragic day eleven years ago," said Al Iacobelli, Vice President, Employee Relations, Chrysler Group LLC. "We are proud of our employees who worked so hard to bring this permanent reminder of those events to our corporate headquarters."

"The Committee felt the presence of a piece of the World Trade Center in one of the largest office buildings in the country would serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made to preserve our freedom," said Wayne Smith, Chairman of the UAW/Chrysler Local 412 Veterans Committee. "We are honored to be the custodian of this artifact on behalf of all employees of the Chrysler Group for generations to come."

"Many talented Chrysler Group employees contributed to the painstaking, year-long process required to create this stunning memorial," said General Holiefield, UAW Vice President and Director of the Chrysler Department. "It is a powerful symbol of the indomitable spirit of the American people and the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform who serve the cause of liberty. More than 600 union members, mostly first responders, were among those who perished in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania on 9/11. Let us never forget them or others who have lost their lives since then to help ensure that freedom endures."

The UAW Local 412 Chrysler Veterans Committee is comprised of a cross section of Chrysler Group employees. Its purpose is to provide support for veterans, those on active military duty and their families. Members participate in events commemorating Memorial Day and Veterans Day, facilitate visits to local Veterans Administration Hospitals and provide assistance to the Veterans Court initiative in Macomb County, Mich.

Chrysler Group has long been an integral part of our nation's fight for freedom and has distinguished itself in its support of employees who are on active duty or veterans. In 2011, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve of Southeast Michigan, a U.S. Department of Defense agency, presented its employer leadership award to Chrysler Group for the Company's longstanding support for employees on active military duty.

The Company is also a past recipient of the U.S. Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, which is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to employers for their outstanding support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

Chrysler Group currently has 24 employees on active military leave. Among Chrysler Group's U.S. employees, 218 are currently active or inactive Reservists. Nearly 4,200 current employees are military veterans.

About Chrysler Group LLC
Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 to establish a global strategic alliance with Fiat S.p.A., produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Mopar, SRT and Fiat vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler Group's culture of innovation, first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925, and Fiat's complementary technology that dates back to its founding in 1899.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler, all-new Dodge Dart, Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and Fiat 500. Fiat contributes world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-size cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.

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SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC