On Monday, November 1, 2021 – ten days before Veterans Day – twenty-one Thompson Machinery veterans came together to run in Team Red, White, & Blue’s (Team RWB) Old Glory Relay in La Vergne, TN.
The Old Glory Relay is an amazing journey where 5,000 veterans and supporters work together to run, walk, and hike the American flag through 9 states in honor of America’s veterans. The 62-day Old Glory Relay trek began in New York City on September 11, 2021, and finished in Atlanta on Veterans Day, November 11, 2021.
Thompson Machinery was a proud sponsor of this year’s relay and was honored to host a celebration event as the relay made a stop in Middle Tennessee. “It was a powerful moment to witness as our own veterans completed the race surrounded by family, friends, coworkers, and members of the community celebrating their accomplishment,” stated De Thompson V, President at Thompson Machinery. After the race, Thompson welcomed veterans and their families, along with all Thompson team members and customers to join in a celebration event that consisted of lunch, live music, and more.
Charles Wayne Gentry Jr., Thompson employee, and U.S. Air Force veteran, explained what it means to him to work for a company dedicated to supporting veterans, “From a company aspect it is very important to give back, I love what this company stands for, I love that this company has a product that helps build America…without something like that…I feel that we get forgotten about. It is a tremendous honor that a company like Thompson Machinery is so willing to stand behind its veterans.”
As of November 2021, veterans make up 14% of the workforce at Thompson Machinery, which makes Team RWB’s cause especially significant to Thompson. The mission of Team RWB is to enrich veterans’ lives, and the non-profit organization focuses on creating opportunities for veterans and the community to connect through physical and social activity. “We are really working to help veterans stay physically active when they leave the military, and by being physically active drawing on the mental, physical, and emotional benefits that come with that,” stated Mike Erwin, Founder and Executive Director of Team RWB. Currently, Team RWB has more than 220,000 members spread across nearly 200 chapters and communities nationwide. To learn more and get involved, visit TeamRWB.org or download the Team RWB App today on the App Store or Google Play.
