The United States Honor Flag Begins Texas-wide Tour to Salute Military, Public Safety Heroes

AUSTIN, Texas, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the most cherished and revered national symbols of the post-9/11 era, the United States Honor Flag, is embarking on a multi-city tour of Texas beginning today in Austin. The tour is led by The Honor Network (www.ushonorflag.org), the Austin-based non-profit organization that is the trusted custodian of the U.S. Honor Flag. This unique patriotic program, called "The Honor Tour," is being underwritten in Texas by Chevrolet, and began with a special presentation at today's Austin Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon, which included remarks by GM CEO, Ed Whitacre.

"Everywhere this flag goes, it inspires a flood of emotion, pride, and patriotism, and we are thrilled to bring this national symbol to thousands of Texans during July, the month we celebrate the founding of the nation," said Chris Heisler, president of The Honor Network. "Sometimes the best gift we can give to our troops and first responders is the gift of awareness and appreciation for the sacrifices they have made."

The United States Honor Flag was gifted to Heisler by the Texas House of Representatives shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington. With the flag in hand, Heisler traveled from Austin to Ground Zero where the flag was hoisted on a crane and flew over much of the recovery efforts. The events of 9/11 also inspired Heisler to enlist in the U.S. Army where the flag accompanied him on missions in the Middle East.

Since then, the flag has appeared at hundreds of community and national presentations and ceremonies, and has become a symbol of the sacrifice and service of the nation's military, law enforcement officers, and firefighters.

The Honor Tour will take the flag to an array of events and locations throughout Texas this month, including police and firefighter memorials, Texas Rangers and Houston Astros baseball games, Lakeway's Aquapalooza, the Heroes Ride motorcycle rally, and the Johnson Space Center. Each tour stop will provide Texans with an opportunity to interact with the flag first-hand and reflect on all that it represents.

Highlights of the tour include:

July 1 – Arrival at Austin-Bergstrom Airport

July 4 – Rangers Ballpark in Arlington for Texas Rangers vs. Chicago White Sox

July 8 – Texas Rangers Museum in Waco

July 9 – Dell Diamond for Round Rock Express vs. Oklahoma City Redhawks

July 10 – City of Lakeway's Aquapalooza

July 15 – USS Lexington in Corpus Christi

July 17 – Heroes Ride motorcycle rally in San Antonio

July 23 – Johnson Space Center, Houston

July 24 – Minute Maid Park for Houston Astros vs. Cincinnati Reds

In addition, the tour will include programs specifically for children with stops at two children's hospitals, a Boy Scout camp, and other kid-focused locations. The flag also will make impromptu stops in many Texas towns along the tour route.

"At Chevrolet, we are proud to partner with The Honor Network to help bring the United States Honor Flag and its message to so many," said Craig Eppling, regional communications manager, Chevrolet.

About The Honor Network

The Honor Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to memorializing those heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for their family, community and country and also to foster education of the American public regarding those heroes and today's heroes and their organizations including police, fire, and our nation's military. The Honor Network was founded on the conviction that every person who is committed in service to our communities and country deserve the support of every single American and that an increase in American patriotism is vital in keeping our great nation united.

About Chevy

Chevrolet is a global automotive brand, with annual sales of about 3.5 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. In the U.S., the Chevrolet portfolio includes: iconic performance cars, such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long lasting pickups and SUVs, such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers, such as Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers "gas-friendly" solutions, such as the upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco model that is expected to deliver up to an estimated 40 mpg highway, and 2011 Chevrolet Volt that will offer up to 40 miles of electric driving and an additional 300 miles of extended range with the onboard generator (based on GM testing).  Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security, and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response, and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models, fuel solutions, and OnStar availability can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

SOURCE Chevrolet