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May 28, 2014 , Toledo, Ohio - As the nation pauses this Memorial Day to remember those who served in the United States Armed Services, Chrysler Group’s Toledo Assembly Complex (TAC) unveiled its own special tribute to veterans around the country during a ceremony at the plant today.
Vice President of Assembly Operations Zach Leroux, TAC Plant Manager Chuck Padden, UAW Local 12 Chairman Mark Epley, employees and five veterans with ties to the Toledo plant, including three retirees who served in WWII, dedicated a permanent veteran’s memorial in the shadow of the giant Jeep® sign that identifies the plant at the intersection of I-75 and I-280. Featuring a restored 1942 Willys Military Jeep, the memorial not only recognizes the service of those in uniform, but also the plant’s nearly 75-year history of building Jeep vehicles, starting with production of the first military Jeep.
“Like all Americans, we owe our freedom to the sacrifices made by the men and women who serve in the military, but at Jeep, we owe our very existence to our WWII veterans,” said Padden. “When they returned home from the war, they purchased civilian versions of the Jeep vehicles they learned to depend upon in the war. These heroes became our first Jeep enthusiasts. Without them, we would not be here today.
“But the Jeep legacy is not just about the vehicles; it is also about the people,” said Padden. “Some of the people who currently work in this plant and some who helped refurbish this 1942 Jeep are descendants of those who possibly built this very vehicle. We have come a long way at the Toledo Jeep plant, so it’s important to remind the new generation where it all started.”