Dennis Corporation employees present SgtMaj Harvey Parks with a check for his trip to the WWII Memorial. Dennis Corporation employees recently collected funds to send fellow employee and World War II veteran, Sergeant Major Harvey Parks, USMC (Ret.), to Washington, D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial. SgtMaj Parks joined Dennis Corporation in September, 2009.

Dennis Corporation employees started a collection for SgtMaj Parks’ trip after they learned that he has never been to the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. The employees collected funds over a two week period, raising a total of $1,800 and presented the check to SgtMaj Parks on Monday, October 19.

Dan Dennis, president of Dennis Corporation, plans to personally accompany SgtMaj Parks to the Memorial. The funds raised will completely cover all expenses for SgtMaj Parks, including air travel, hotel, and all associated activities. Since the presentation of the check to SgtMaj Parks, Dennis Corporation employees have assisted him in planning his trip scheduled for November 10, the Marine Corps Birthday, and November 11, Veterans Day.

While on the trip, SgtMaj Parks will spend a day in Quantico, VA at the Marine Corps Museum, which will include attending a cake cutting ceremony in honor of the Marine Corps Birthday. As the oldest Marine expected to be present at the ceremony, SgtMaj Parks has been designated an honoree and will cut the first slice of cake at the ceremony. After spending a day in Quantico, SgtMaj Parks will celebrate Veterans Day in Washington, D.C. and will attend ceremonies at the World War II Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Vietnam War Memorial.

SgtMaj Parks is a 32–year veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Veteran. SgtMaj Parks retired with Honors in 1972 after dedicating 32 years of his life to serving our country. His military experience includes recruiting, serving as Field Sergeant Major, and being stationed throughout the world. Since joining Dennis Corporation, SgtMaj Parks has assisted all company divisions with various tasks including compiling local news articles from all areas of the state and assisting with the delivery of corporate materials.

Dennis Corporation employs a large number of veterans from almost all branches of the armed forces and is committed to honoring their service. The employees were pleased to present SgtMaj Parks with this gift and send him to our nation’s capitol.

Dwight Cathcart, a veteran of the US Army and Special Projects manager at Dennis Corporation, said, “When I see Sgt- Maj Parks walking the halls of Dennis Corporation I feel humbled. He is a great man of unbelievable character and selflessness who gave himself completely to this great nation. Noone in my generation will ever truly understand the sacrifices that he, and others like him, made to secure our future. Being a combat veteran myself, I would have seized an opportunity to serve under him; but everyday, I am simply honored to work alongside him.”