In connection with the ongoing North American International Auto Show, Detroit automaker Chrysler announced that for the seventh straight year, they will be supporting Detroit's firefighters. The announcement was made during the press days for the NAIAS.
The Auto Channel reported that the Detroit Fire Department located across the Cobo Center where the Detroit Auto Show is taking place has been renamed as The Chrysler Firehouse. The automaker recognizes the valiant firefighters of Detroit and the company has included them in charitable giving.
During the ceremony, Chrysler chairman and chief executive officer Bob Nardelli announced the donation of $25,000 which will go towards restoring the Fallen Firefighter's Memorial. As part of the automaker's commitment towards showing appreciation to firefighter, it will be restoring a 1937 Seagrave Safety Sedan.
The said vehicle has been used in the past to transport firefighters to areas of deployment. The restoration of the vehicles is to make it once more possible to bring firefighters who died in the line of duty to their final resting place in a fire apparatus. That has been the tradition for firefighters but was abandoned as modern fire trucks are loaded with different features thus less space is available.
"At Chrysler, we do a great deal to make our cars and trucks the stars of the auto show press events," said Nardelli. "But tonight, the stars are the heroes who put their lives on the line every day for the citizens of Detroit. Speaking on behalf of all of us at Chrysler, it is an honor to be associated with the Detroit Fire Department and to show our support for everything they do."
Apart from those donations, the automaker also donated commemorative challenge coins. The automaker also donated an Accountability System for emergency responders in the area of Detroit. That brings the automaker's total donation to about $65,000. That amount though is nothing compared to what firefighters have to go through to protect establishments in the Detroit area.
Fred Anderson, President of the Firefighter's Fund Association, said: "Detroit's fallen heroes deserve a final ride on something as grand as the Seagrave Safety Sedan. On behalf of the Detroit Fire department, we thank The Chrysler Foundation for helping us restore this vehicle so that we can honor our members on the last stop to their final resting place."
Tyrone Scott, Fire Commissioner, added: "The challenge coins and the Accountability System are timely and greatly appreciated. The Accountability System will enable our firefighters to increase the number of people we can keep safe and help them keep track of manpower deployment. The new system will ensure that our brave men and women always have as much information possible in order to save lives and keep themselves safe."
The restored Seagrave Safety Sedan will be displayed at the NAIAS along with other vehicles from the automaker which boasts of having auto parts as reliable as .
