Pilot Air Freight announced that the United States military and the Seattle District, US Army Corps of Engineers honored Patrick Allen and Karla Reese-Beltrand, representatives from Pilot's Seattle office. Pilot, which maintains a tradition of working with the US military, donated their services and financed the delivery of essential footwear to Iraqi civilians working with the Army Corps of Engineers in Sadr City to equip them for the city's rebuilding efforts. Allen and Reese-Beltrand were among several Americans who were awarded medals for selfless acts to further stabilize and rebuild Iraq, and bring to an end the threats civilians face on a daily basis.
'It is a great honor to be recognized along with brave Americans who have given up the comforts of home to serve the global community by rebuilding the war-torn region,' said Patrick Allen, co-owner of Pilot's Seattle station. 'Our office jumped at the opportunity to assist the military and provide important supplies to the civilians who represent a majority of Iraqis trying to build a better, safer country.'
The delivery of shoes and boots served as a vital supply of equipment to civilians who assist the military in developing the emergence of public buildings and infrastructure, a task for which the military relies on the Army Corps of Engineers. The footwear that was delivered ensured that Iraqi volunteers could continue to work because many civilians literally have no shoes, and they would not be allowed entry to the Army Base from which they worked without them.
The successful expedited delivery consisted of 1,500 pounds of footwear which originated in Pilot's Seattle station on December 7 and was delivered to a United States military base near Sadr City, Iraq on December 19.
'Our ability to meet these standards of expedited freight worldwide demonstrates Pilot's expertise in serving customers around the world, including highly volatile regions where service is often impossible,' says Richard G. Phillips, Chairman, President, and CEO of Pilot Air Freight. 'I would like to congratulate Patrick Allen and Karla Reese-Beltrand, Seattle's operations personnel and all the Pilot professionals who played a role in making this delivery happen.'
The shipment meets the need of an impoverished area void of resources. This rebuilding effort is restoring, and in some cases introducing, critical infrastructure to the region. Before the reconstruction began, areas within the city did not have plumbing or running water. Residents throughout Sadr City have been contributing to build a safer, cleaner and more viable town with the help of US military forces. Contributions like that of Pilot have helped equip the workers with the tools to work safely and quickly.
In 2005, Pilot moved a total of 35,270,950 pounds of freight worldwide for its military and defense customers, of which, 1,182,353 pounds passed through Pilot's Seattle location.
