May 7, 2004 -- The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is proud to salute employers who support their employees who serve in the National Guard and the various Armed Forces Reserves by taking โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ on a 65 city, nationwide tour which will stop in Sacramento on May 10th, 2004 at the west steps of the State Capitol.
During the stop by โ€œAmerica's Carโ€, citizens of Northern California will be allowed to have their picture taken with the car as well as encouraged to sign their name to several large banners that will be traveling with โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ to show their support of National Guardsmen and Reservists from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 10th. The goal of ESGR is to get 1.2 million signatures nationwide, one for every man or woman who serves in the National Guard and Reserves. In addition to the display, the ESGR, in conjunction with the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce and others, will hold an informative breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the basement cafeteria of the State Capitol. ESGR will recognize local employers who support their employees who are members of National Guard and Armed Forces Reserves, many of whom are on active duty all over the world including serving their country in the rebuilding of Iraq as well as the War on Terror.
โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ is a replica show car of the #29 ESGR Chevrolet Monte Carlo, sponsored in conjunction with Richard Childress Racing, that will be racing in five select races during the 2004 NASCAR Busch Series. The car, over the course of the season, will carry five different paint schemes representing different branches of the National Guard or Armed Forces Reserve as well as five different drivers who have teamed up with ESGR and Richard Childress Racing. When โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ comes to Sacramento, it will carry the paint scheme of Red, White and Blue. On Saturday, May 1st, the Marine Corps Reserve paint scheme was driven by 2002 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart at the NASCAR Busch Series race at the California Speedway in Fontana. Stewart took second place, with the ESGR #29 Marine Reserve car.
The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a division of the United States Department of Defense which has been charged with the mission to acquire and maintain employer support from all public and private employers for those men and women who serve in the National Guard and the various branches of the Armed Forces Reserve. ESGR is run through a network of 2,000 volunteers across the country as well as Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Europe. Some of the companies who have supported ESGR's cause have been Tyson Foods, Pacific Gas & Electric, Miller Brewing Company, The Home Depot, and Verizon Communications. For more information on ESGR please visit www.esgr.com or call 800-336-4590.
For more information on the Sacramento โ€œAmerica's Carโ€ May 10th event, please contact Pete Conaty & Associates at (916) 492-0550,dnichol.pca@sbcglobal.net, Robert Anderson (916) 415-0735,robert.anderson.ca@esgr.us,or Paul Romey at (916) 791-9040,promey@aol.com.