H-D Honoring U.S. Military in November

The Motor Company is partnering with Maxim magazine to run a contest for current and former U.S. military personnel. The grand prize is a Harley-Davidson motorcycle of the winners choice, personally delivered by supermodel Marissa Miller. The Harley Salutes the Military Contest asks veterans and active service men and women five multiple choice questions and a fill-in-the-blank question asking what has been your proudest moment when serving your country?

Additional prizes include free Riders Edge motorcycle training and tickets for four to attend an Ultimate Fighting Championship event, Jan. 2, 2010 in Las Vegas.

Military personnel can enter the contest by visiting http://www.harley-davidson.com/thankyou.

At Harley-Davidson, were all about freedom, but we cant forget that freedom comes at a price, says Dino Bernacchi, Harley-Davidson's director of Advertising and Promotions. Its humbling to think of the countless sacrifices these brave men and women and their families have made to keep our country free, so the Harley-Davidson family is honored to partner with Marisa to help salute military personnel this month.

Im honored to help the Motor Company salute the brave men and women who keep our country free, says Miller. My grandfather is a veteran, and Ive had the unique opportunity to meet several service men and women during recent USO tours, so the military holds a special place in my heart. I hope other Americans will join me and Harley-Davidson in saluting these real life heroes during the month of November.

The Harley-Davidson Museum will also offer free admission to all military personnel and their families Nov. 7-11 for Salute to Military weekend. The St. Johns Northwestern Military Academy and the Disabled American Veterans Mobile Services Office unit are scheduled for a special performance.

Harley-Davidson has a history of military support going back to 1916 when American troops rode Harleys in the Mexican Expedition. In 1917, nearly one-third of all Harley-Davidson motorcycles produced were commissioned by the U.S. military for the First World War. Up to 20,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles were used by the U.S. Army in WWI including one used by Corporal Roy Holtz as the first American to enter Germany after the signing of Armistice.

In WWII, Harley-Davidson provided nearly 90,000 WLA motorcycles to the military.

In present times, Harley-Davidson supports active and retired military personnel through the Harleys Heroes Tour. Funded by a million dollars of funding from the Harley-Davidson Foundation, the Heroes Tour provides counseling to injured veterans in the DAVs Mobile Service Office program.

The Motor Company maintains a strong relationship with the military through the Harley-Davidson family of customers, dealers and employees, says Bernacchi. In fact, 14 percent of Harley-Davidson employees and 30 percent of our customers are either active or retired U.S. military personnel.