"Salute Our Heroes" directly connects job candidates who have served in the military, and spouses of active-duty military personnel, with employers who want to hire them. Employers participating in the Chicago event include LaSalle Bank, Merrill Lynch, Adecco, U.S. Cellular, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, Kaplan University, Rasmussen College, Ceridian Corporation and many others.
"Companies are interested in remaining competitive by hiring well-trained, disciplined and dedicated employees," said retired Major General John Scully, senior vice president at LaSalle Bank, an exhibitor at Chicago's expo.
Chicago's career event will provide former servicemen and women - and the spouses of active-duty military personnel - with myriad job opportunities, career seminars, resume-writing workshops and more. It is being supported by The American Legion, USO, Hire Vets First, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes and many others.
Pre-registration for the event is requested at http://www.nytimes.com/saluteourheroes or proper veteran identification must be provided at the door for admission. Employers can find more information about participating in "Salute Our Heroes" at http://www.nytimes.com/employercentral/salute.
"We introduced 'Salute Our Heroes' in 2005 in New York City and that inaugural event attracted nearly 4,000 veterans and helped transition many of them into new career opportunities," said Andy Wright, Group Director, The New York Times Job Market. "Based on the strong response, we have expanded 'Salute Our Heroes' in 2006 to include Chicago, Boston and Tampa to give employers an opportunity to honor our nation's veterans by giving them jobs."
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"Major companies throughout America recognize that veterans bring to the workplace many intangibles that go beyond the resume - communication and technological skills, teamwork, loyalty, a tireless work ethic, attention to detail and so much more," said Thomas L. Bock, national commander, The American Legion. "'Salute Our Heroes' is more than an ordinary job fair. It is truly a salute to heroes, a patriotic welcome home for those newly discharged, an opportunity for new directions for those who have been out a while, and a way for the spouses of active-duty personnel to advance their careers while their loved ones are serving our country. Few other events strike so close to the core purpose of being an American."
Retired Major T.P. O'Mahoney, chairman of the President's National Hire Veterans Committee, said: "Veterans deserve a special opportunity like this to connect with employers who value leadership qualities in their staff and managers and we are proud to help in any way we can."
Corporal Sergio Villa of Chicago's South Side, who returned home from Iraq last year and is enrolled at Daley College, said: "I am studying to go into law enforcement, to be a corrections officer or deputy sheriff, but it is not easy out there. After months of searching for a job, I gave up, enrolled in college and hoped for the best. I am eager to attend the 'Salute Our Heroes' job fair because it is an event specifically for veterans like me."