Memorandum

DATE: November 10, 2011
TO: Lockheed Martin U.S. Employees
FROM: Bob Stevens, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Honoring the Service and Remembering the Sacrifice of Our Veterans

In war and in peace, generations of heroes have served and sacrificed on our behalf. Tomorrow, on Veterans Day, we’ll have a chance to honor their service to the cause of freedom. 

Veterans have endured long deployments, far from loved ones, deprived of comforts many take for granted. They’ve faced fear and danger, holding the line against all threats to our freedom and our way of life. They’ve followed a path of hardship, without complaint. They’ve risen to challenges without acclaim, knowing they stand for something greater than themselves. And they’ve given their all, including – in far too many instances – their lives.

We understand that kind of service and sacrifice. For us, it’s personal. We know what it means to serve. One in five of our employees is a veteran of military service. In the past 12 months, nearly 1,200 of our colleagues have been on military leave. On any given day, more than 50 are mobilized with the Guard or Reserves. That’s a huge military connection, but there’s even more. Whether you’ve served in the Armed Forces or not, you’re serving a noble cause now by what you do every day…and by never forgetting who we’re working for.

We also understand the virtues and values our veterans embody. We know that answering the call of duty is an act of honor and valor that is rooted in a sincere love of country. We recognize and admire the way our servicemen and women devote themselves to preserving our liberties. And we know that the greatest tribute we can pay, tomorrow and always, is to support those in uniform with the same dedication they demonstrate each day.

Wherever you’ll be this Veterans Day, please pause to reflect on the meaning of service and sacrifice, and to honor and thank our veterans. As you do that, please accept my thanks for the important work you always do so very well, for your unmatched commitment to support our customers, and for setting the standard for honorable and ethical behavior.