posted on May 20, 2015 22:11
Port O’Connor, Texas (May 18, 2015) – In honor of military veterans and their sacrifices, approximately 930 wounded veterans from across the nation and their families spent last weekend in Port O’Connor and Victoria, Texas, for the annual deep-sea fishing event and barbecue. HOLT CAT®, the Caterpillar® equipment and engine dealer for South, Central, North and Northeast Texas, and the Caterpillar North American hydraulic excavator facility in Victoria, Texas, are proud sponsors of this event as part of a shared, ongoing commitment to veterans and employees serving in the United States military.
Veterans participated in a welcome rally before boarding boats to begin the “big catch” competition; the launch took place at two points, using 400 professional fishing guides. In the evening, the warriors and their families were recognized for their contributions at a barbecue dinner and ceremony. In honor of the heroes and their sacrifices, the Warrior’s Weekend “Field of Honor” with hundreds of flags will remain on display in Victoria, Texas, for the rest of the month.
For the 5th year in a row, Caterpillar and HOLT CAT supported Warrior’s Weekend by donating the equipment needed to power and cool the outside event, including several portable generators and numerous 20-ton air conditioning units, along with other equipment needs. Several Caterpillar and HOLT CAT employees, some of whom also served in the armed forces, also volunteered throughout the preparation process and during the event.
“These soldiers and their families have given so much for our country," said John Jones, facility manager at the Caterpillar excavator manufacturing facility in Victoria. “Supporting Warrior’s Weekend is our way of saying thank you and showing appreciation to American veterans and their families.”
The companies also employ a significant number of veterans and have policies in place to support those in the Guard or Reserves. Both companies are committed to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Hiring Our Heroes” program. Currently, more than 17 percent of HOLT employees are veterans of the armed forces, out of approximately 2,300 employees statewide. Caterpillar also employs more than 2,500 veterans.
For more information about the Weekend Warriors event, please visit: www.warriorsweekend.org
Press Inquiries/Contact Information:
HOLT CAT
Jim Campbell
jim.campbell@holtcat.com
(210) 648-1111
Crystal L. Stutes
crystal.stutes@hkstrategies.com
(210) 378-2966
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About HOLT CAT
HOLT CAT® sells, rents and services Caterpillar machines, engines, generator sets and trucks in a 118-county Texas territory spanning from the Red River to the Rio Grande. HOLT offers total machine and engine rebuild capabilities, sells used equipment around the world and fabricates its own line of land clearing equipment and HOLT Spray King® water tankers. HOLT is the dealer for Link-Belt Cranes in the Eastern half of Texas as well as the El Paso area. They are the dealer for AGCO/Challenger and Claas farm equipment for the Eastern half of Texas and portions of Arkansas and Missouri.
The Holt name has been associated with heavy equipment and Caterpillar for more than 100 years. Peter M. Holt, Chief Executive Officer of HOLT CAT, is the great-grandson of Benjamin Holt, who in 1904 developed the first successful track-type tractor which he named the "Caterpillar." HOLT CAT has come to be synonymous with quality, integrity and commitment to customer service. The HOLT CAT team is committed to providing rock solid stability with superior products and services to heavy equipment and engine users from Brownsville to Texarkana, Texas.