U-Haul International, Inc. is continuing its commitment to honoring veterans by sponsoring the 75th commemoration of the Attack on Pearl Harbor.
U-Haul not only served as the presenting veterans sponsor of the opening gala on Dec. 3, they also assisted veterans and their families to make the trip to Pearl Harbor.
“We should always remember those who died to protect our freedom,” stated Joe Shoen, CEO of Amerco, the holding company of U-Haul International.
DIVERGE spoke to Tony C. Smith, U-Haul Employment Manager, who is a veteran and formerly the Company’s senior veteran recruiter about why veterans are so important to U-Haul.
Why did U-Haul decide to sponsor the Veterans dinner?
As the Shoen family noted, this is who we are. For an organization like U-Haul that places such a premium on employing and helping our veterans, serving as the Presenting Veterans Sponsor of the Pearl Harbor 75th Commemoration Opening Gala seemed a very fitting way for U-Haul to pay homage to our WWII heroes, many of whom gave their lives for our freedom.
Why is it important to commemorate Pearl Harbor?
It’s hard to believe, but several generations have passed since President Roosevelt addressed the nation about “a date which will live in infamy.” This was an event that changed our country and its future forever. Today, a handful of Pearl Harbor survivors are still alive to be honored, cherished and have their stories shared. That opportunity should be seized, and the importance of what happened on Dec. 7, 1941 needs to be shared with generations to come.
What is your favorite part of this initiative?
The personal involvement of Joe Shoen, our CEO and President. Mr. Shoen is very hands-on with every facet of U-Haul, from the day-to-day operations to our sustainability efforts and veteran initiatives. So it truly means something when he’s taking the time to become personally involved with the commemoration events at Pearl Harbor. This is a passion for him.
What other initiatives does U-haul have for veterans?
U-Haul commits a significant part of its recruiting efforts to pursuing veterans that can help us. There are so many veteran characteristics that fit at every level of employment, from work ethic and teamwork to structure and strong principles. We also partner with Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) to put the spouses of active duty military and veterans to work. U-Haul charitable partnerships have benefitted many active duty military and veteran organizations through the years, and that continues today. Our new partnership with non-profit Humble Design Fueled by U-Haul will help provide home furnishings for a number of veteran families trying to escape homelessness.
How important is diversity to U-Haul as a company brand?
Diversity is necessary for any work environment where creative ideas flourish and individual distinctions are embraced. U-Haul customers come from all walks of life. The average person moves 11 times in a lifetime – regardless of income, gender, race, religion, etc. – and those moves often facilitate the need for a U-Haul rental truck, trailer or self-storage unit. We aim to reflect our vast customer base in order to best serve every do-it-yourself mover.
