Patriotism Is Both Our Passion & Practice
The Performance Industrial team is always working to help those around us, and May is especially important to us as our nation comes together to celebrate the heroism of our veterans on Memorial Day. Many celebrate the long Memorial Day weekend with barbecues and family get-togethers, but Memorial Day is so much more than a chance to kick off the summer months. At its heart, Memorial Day is a day to solemnly honor all men and women who have fallen in service of the U.S. military. Memorial Day is a day of both celebration and grief, accounting for the honor of our heroes and reflecting on their tragic loss.
Does Memorial Day have meaning to you? Many communities around the United States have Memorial Day events at cemeteries where veterans and spiritual leaders speak. Other cities and towns host parades to honor the military. For Performance Industrial, it is a chance to give back, and we strive to honor our military and remember those that we’ve lost, not only on Memorial Day, but throughout the year.
Performance Industrial was founded on a culture of patriotism. We are a proud American company, and we do our best to be loyal citizens. Whether we’re out helping our local Veterans or delivering new American flags to our customers to replace old ones that are worn or tattered, we believe in honoring the red, white, and blue. Our owner Bill Miller and Operations Manager Sean Willcoxon both serve on the Board for Folds of Honor NY, and it was through their common interest in public service that they became friends. Through their friendship, Sean joined Bill and Karen at Performance Industrial in September of 2022.
Bill has been a huge supporter of the organization, Folds of Honor New York, for the past four years. Folds of Honor ensures that families who have sacrificed so much for our country receive the education and opportunities they deserve. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has provided life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military. They recently expanded their mission to include the families of America’s first responders.
Folds of Honor began with Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney’s flight home from his second tour of duty in Iraq. He was an F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard and became painfully aware of the realities families face when a loved one in uniform is fallen or disabled. The event that sparked his passion was when his flight landed, and the pilot announced they carried the deceased remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin on board. Lieutenant Colonel Rooney watched as Corporal Bucklin’s twin brother walked somberly alongside the flag covered casket to meet his family on the tarmac. Among them was the deceased Corporal’s young son, Jacob.
Since that night, Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney has committed his life to rallying patriotic Americans and blending sacrifice with hope through the Folds of Honor. As a Class A Member of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America, he created a better way to give back to our nation’s heroes with a round of golf! This made it easy for all to participate whether they are an individual or a club. Just get out there and play, donate, and make a difference in the lives of military and first responder families! The Folds of Honor of New York will launch their 1st Annual Patriot Golf Classic on Monday, June 26, 2023, at The Edison Club!
At Performance Industrial, our commitment to community is the fabric of who we are. As we enter our 37th year in business, we understand that with opportunity comes responsibility. When you live and work in a community that supports you, it is only right to pay the goodness forward. We look forward to continuing this tradition for many more years!
