Veterans Day is one day in November, but many of ASLRRA’s members work to honor U.S. service members year round. These efforts include volunteering with and raising funding for veterans organizations; participating in or supporting military training and exercises; recruiting and hiring veterans; and mentoring or providing training and internship opportunities to transitioning military members.
“Veterans have traditionally been an excellent fit for our industry. They bring significant skills, a commitment to safety and mission, and valuable experience to the railroad industry,” said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker. “Our association’s members recognize that value, and many of our members’ efforts go far beyond recruiting. Bringing veterans into the short line environment is a win-win-win-win for the employee, the railroad, the industry, and the country.”
One of the most public ways short lines express their gratitude for members of the U.S. military is through specially painted locomotives.
ASLRRA member parent company North Shore Railroad Company and Affiliates (NSHR) spent two years designing and painting their commemorative locomotives, which NSHR unveiled in May. NSHR decorated two units, LVRR 9052, the Veterans Unit, and LVRR 9050, the Veterans Unit, in consultation with a team of employees that included veterans and veterans’ families.
Though NSHR’s military units are generally used in freight service, the company used them for passenger excursions for the first time on Nov. 9, at a Veterans Day event that raised money for two veterans organizations, Expedition Orange and Lycoming County Hometown Heroes. NSHR donated all ticket sales to the organizations, as well as money raised from items raffled off during the event.
Other railroads who show support through military tribute locomotives include member parent company Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services, Inc. (G&W), which unveiled some new designs on Monday, Florida East Coast Railway, Lake State Railway, the Indiana Rail Road, Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Railway and Louisville & Indiana Railroad Company (LIRC).
Beyond their locomotives, LIRC has made helping veterans an important part of the company’s community service efforts. Every year, LIRC participates in service projects benefitting veterans. They have sponsored the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Bass Tournament and veteran golf outings for the Indiana USO. LIRC employees have also helped veterans in their community through PVA, assisting with home improvement projects, landscaping and general repairs.
“It’s our way of saying thank you for your service,” said LIRC President John Goldman. “It’s really just about doing the right thing.”
Because rail continues to be an important component of national security and military readiness, some short lines support military units and their training exercises. This year, for the first time, the Alaska Railroad participated in the U.S. Army Alaska’s largest annual Arctic-readiness exercise, helping move a convoy of vehicles and equipment 400 miles from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to Fort Wainwright, Alaska in minus 20 degrees.
Other railroads assist with military exercises in their states, and some like LIRC provide resources to enable military and National Guard members to conduct training on skills like loading and securing equipment on railcars.
Implementing initiatives to recruit, mentor and train veterans and service members is another focus for short lines. Railroads and parent companies work to attract veterans by participating in military job fairs and developing strong relationships with transition offices on nearby military installations and veteran employment organizations in their regions.
But hiring veterans is not the sole end goal for short lines. Many of these companies and their employees help mentor service members looking for new jobs after a career in the military, whether or not they end up in railroading. Railroads like LIRC have participated in the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program, which allows active-duty members to intern with public- and private-sector organizations during their last 180 days of service. In addition, G&W is a corporate partner of veteran and spouse mentor program American Corporate Partners (ACP) and G&W Recruiting Manager Joseph Ciufo serves as an ACP veteran mentor.
Once they hire veterans, though, short lines work hard to honor their service. A number of ASLRRA members have been recognized as military friendly companies, including LIRC and parent companies G&W and Watco. Other companies have received recognition through the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program and signed the ESGR pledge to support employees who are also National Guard members or reservists.
Other efforts to recognize military veteran employees include profiles in company newsletters and on social media, special Veterans Day events, military-themed gifts and more. This year, for example, parent company TNW Corporation made custom sweatshirts for its veteran employees and individual railroads held celebrations complete with treats like cake and cookies.
When reflecting on his military service and railroad career, Air Force veteran and TNW Manager, Safety and Operating Practices Jacob Noe said, “It was a very easy transition from the military to the railroad; they shared many of the same values. I was successful at every turn in all my different roles as a railroader. That can all be attributed to the strong foundation that the military gave me early on. When I came to TNW it was the perfect alignment. The TNW core values of integrity, safety, servant leadership, and quality were already part of who I was.”
The connection between railroads and the U.S. military has been strong since some of the earliest days of U.S. history. ASLRRA’s members continue to nurture that bond in myriad ways, fostering relationships that aim to benefit all involved.
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| PowerRail supervisors receive the Patriot Award for their support of employees who are members of the National Guard or reserves. | Representatives from Watco speak with military service members at recruiting events at Fort Stewart in Georgia (left) and Fort Campbell in Kentucky (right). | |||
Left: A team from Louisville & Indiana Railroad Company, including (L to R) Doug Wolfe, Anthony Ritchie, Karen Walker, Ryan Barbato, Nick Adams, Jeremy Kramer, Will Brock and John Goldman participated in a service project with Paralyzed Veterans of America to help with landscaping and other home improvement tasks. Not pictured: Jon Jordan, Dan Watson and Mike Gary. Center: Kramer, Goldman, Brock and Barbato use a wood chipper to help clear downed trees on the veteran's property. Right: Members of the Indiana National Guard at Camp Atterbury participate in rail load out training using railcars and equipment provided by LIRC. (Photos courtesy of LIRC)
Left: North Shore Railroad Company held a raffle fundraiser at its Veterans Day event, with all proceeds going to two veterans organizations. Center: NSHR put its two military tribute locomotives into passenger service for the first time for its Veterans Day event. Ticket sale proceeds also benefitted veterans organizations. Right: Expedition Orange, an organization bringing awareness to Vietnam veterans and their families, was one of the beneficiaries of NSHR's fundraising efforts. (Photos courtesy of NSHR)
Left: TNW Corporation gave its military veteran employees custom sweatshirts and challenge coins in honor of Veterans Day. Texas Rock Crusher Railway employees and Army veterans (L to R) Jonathon P., Alex R., James F. hold up their gifts. Right: Military veteran employees at TNW Corporation's railroads were celebrated on Veterans Day with gifts and cake. Texas North Western Railway employees (L to R) Tim C., Tim F. and Clayton F. are pictured at TXNW's event. (Photos courtesy of TNW Corporation)
