James Trottier was a child of the 1960s. His father was career military – 24 years in the U.S. Army – and several uncles also served in the Army. Trottier followed the family tradition of service, but went into the U.S. Navy. “I was on active duty for three years, and another three years on reserve duty.”
As an AMH (Aviation Structural Mechanic - Hydraulics), Trottier worked on the LTV A-7 Corsair II on the flight deck and in the maintenance shop of aircraft carriers. He was attached to VA-153 and VA-147, attack fighter squadrons stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California.
“I was deployed to the USS Franklin D.Roosevelt (CVA) for a cruise to the Mediterranean, then onto the USS Constellation (CVA) for an east-pack cruise to Hawaii and the Far East. I didn’t get to spend a lot of time at home,” he notes.
Of that time in his life, he says, “The military changes you from a boy to a man. It teaches you that you can be and do more than you ever thought possible.”
Trottier hasbeen a salesman at Jerry Durant Chevrolet in Weatherford for seven months – “new and used, Chevrolets, Cadillacs, GMCs and Buicks, as well as Toyotas and Hyundais” – and sold GM products for 5½ years prior to that. His favorite GM car of all timeis the 1957 Chevy Bel-Air.“I like cars and trucks. And GM is an American company that pays taxes in America,” he states.
He learned about Carry The Load from his sales manager.The non-profit’s work and GMC’s sponsorship mean“continued support for the men and women that protect and serve our country.”
“It's good to see the support the military is getting today. After growing up in the 60s and watching firsthand how the military was treated, it’s as different as night and day.”
In honor of Carry The Load, DFW GMC Dealers are calling all military – active duty and veterans – and friends and family! DFW GMC Dealers want people to salute a veteran or active duty military hero or first responder (fire, police, medical) by going to the DFW GMC Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/GMCDFW)and entering a “salute.” If you have a story and photo to share about the person you are saluting, DFW GMCDealers will donate an additional $5 if you post it on their Facebook wall. DFW GMC Dealers – a 2013 sponsor of Carry The Load – will donate $5 for every salute and story up to $10,000 from today through May 27, 2013.
To leave a salute, go to https://www.facebook.com/gmcdfwand click the “Salute!” tab. The salutes will be posted on a special Honor Roll Call. Check back each day to see the salutes.
The Dallas Memorial March will be held Sunday and Monday, May 26-27, at Reverchon Park and Katy Trail. Money is raised by event participants and sponsors with a goal of $1 million. Recipients for 2013 are Assist The Officer, Heroes On The Water, Friends of Dallas Fire-Rescue, Tip Of The Spear Foundation and Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation.
The 2000-mile, 27-day Carry The Load National Relay left West Point, NY, on April 30 and will finish in Dallas Memorial Day weekend. The journey honors America’s fallen heroes and their families. Follow the relay on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CarryTheLoad.
For more information on DFW GMC visit www.facebook.com/GMCDFW. To donate, register or for more information on Carry The Load, go to http://carrytheload.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1047584&lis=1&kntae1047584=47F9C79D19D9402DA30D2937C8574A9B. More information on the National Relay is available at http://carrytheload.org/.
Thank you James Trottier for Carrying The Load.
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Contact: Jo Trizila, TrizCom Inc., jo@TrizCom.com, Office: 972-247-1369, Cell: 214-232-0078
DFW GMC Dealerships
Classic of Arlington, 1400 E Interstate 20, Arlington, TX, 76018, 817-375-3000, www.classicarlington.com
Ray Riding Motors, Inc., 1111 East Hwy 243, Canton, TX, 75103, 903-567-4131, www.johncrow.com
Classic of Carrollton, 2700 N I 35 East, Carrollton, TX, 75007-4402, 972-242-4000, www.classicofcarrollton.com
Freedom Chevrolet Buick GMC, 8008 Marvin D. Love Freeway, Dallas, TX, 75237, 972-298-4911, www.freedomchevydallas.com
Gateway Buick GMC, 11438 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, TX, 75238, 214-342-7052
Sewell Village Buick-GMC, 7474 Lemmon Ave, Dallas, TX, 75209, 214-902-2222, www.sewellgmc.com
James Wood Decatur Buick-GMC, 2111 S Hwy 287, Decatur, TX, 76234, 940-627-2177, www.jameswooddecatur.com
James Wood Denton Buick GMC, 3906 I 35E S, Denton, TX, 76210, 972-434-1515, www.jameswoodpbg.com
Hiley BG of Fort Worth, 3535 W Loop 820 S, Fort Worth, TX, 76116-6648, 817-632-8800, www.hileygm.com
Luttrull-McNatt Buick GMC, 1608 W Hwy 82, Gainesville, TX, 76240, 940-665-5591, www.luttrullmcnatt.com
Classic of Granbury Buick-GMC , 1909 East Hwy. 377, Granbury, TX, 76049, 817-279-9775, www.classicgranbury.com
Freeman Buick-GMC, 501 W. State Highway 114 , Grapevine, TX, 76051, 817 410-5000, www.freemangrapevine.com
Southwest Buick GMC of East Texas, LLC, 4001 Interstate 30, Greenville, TX, 75402, 903-455-5100, www.greenvillepontiacbuickgmc.com
McKinney Buick GMC, 3950 S. Central Expressway, McKinney, TX, 75069, 469-952-5200, www.lonestarautogroup.com
Ewing Buick-GMC, 4464 Plano Pkwy, Plano, TX, 75093, 972-964-7400, www.thinkewing.com
Heritage Buick-GMC, 930 E I-30, Rockwall, TX, 75087, 972-771-7272, www.heritagebpg.com
Bruner Motors Inc., 1515 West S Loop US 377, Stephenville, TX, 76401, 254-968-2135, www.brunergm.com
Carlisle Buick-GMC, 1701 W US Highway 287 Bypass, Waxahachie, TX, 75167, 972 938-1991, www.waxahachiebuick.com
Jerry's Buick-GMC, 3118 Fort Worth Hwy., Weatherford, TX, 76087, 817-596-5581, www.jerrysbuickgmc.com
