“At Bell, service, sacrifice, courage, and teamwork is embedded in who we are,” said Lisa Atherton, CEO and President, Bell, and USAF veteran. “Today and every day, we honor our veterans from all branches, of all wars, who fought and protected our freedoms that we enjoy. We continue to remain united under our duty to country while we work together to support the needs of our Armed Forces customers.”

In honor of Veterans Day, hundreds of veterans joined together at Bell’s facilities across the U.S. to commemorate what they all proudly share – duty to country.

The company-wide ceremony included the posting of colors followed by the national anthem, invocation, and a moment of silence to honor and recognize all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“Veterans are the backbone of not only the work that we do at Bell, but also across the country,” added Lisa. “One of Bell’s top priorities is to be an active force in empowering our nation’s veterans so they know they are not alone in their transition into the civilian sector, all while continuing to honor their military service.”

Nearly one in five Bell employees are military veterans. Because Bell recognizes the unique challenges that come with transitioning from military service to the civilian sector, VORTEX, Bell’s military-employee resource group (ERG), provides veteran employees with a multitude of mentorship and volunteer opportunities throughout the year, including celebrating their accomplishments, hosting networking events, and providing hands-on development programs that help with the civilian sector transition.

To close the ceremony, Jay Hernandez, senior military communications strategist, Bell, and USAF veteran, left the audience with a final request: turn around, reach out, and shake a veteran’s hand. “I can assure you; it is an appreciated gesture,” added Jay.

In addition to the Veterans Day celebration, Bell recently announced that it was granted the Gold Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans (HIRE Vets) program – the only federal award recognizing exceptional achievement in veteran employment.