Railway @ MindSay

By Gerry J. Gilmore

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2006 – A U.S. railroad freight firm has earned the right to blow its locomotives' whistles in celebration of Defense Department recognition for superb support of its employees in the National Guard and Reserve.  BNSF Railway, with headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of 15 U.S. businesses selected to receive the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for 2006.

"BNSF is very pleased to have been nominated and selected to receive this award," said Connie McLendon, BNSF's military staffing manager. "This is an important distinction that very few companies receive, recognizing outstanding support for our National Guard, Reserve and veteran employees."

Today, more than 175 of BNSF's 40,000 employees are serving on active military duty, McLendon noted, with more than 485 having been called up for service since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States.  McLendon said her company provides "enhanced and extended benefits for those employees called to active duty in the war on terrorism." That includes company-provided differential pay to supplement an employee's military salary, as well as extended health-care benefits.

Additionally, BNSF organizes welcome-home celebrations and provides care packages for employees who are called up for active military service, McLendon said. The company also dedicates resources to assist employees' transitions when they depart for duty and after they return.  The railway also has an aggressive veterans' hiring program, McLendon said, noting her firm hired more than 750 former servicemembers in 2005. And BNSF has hired more than 700 veterans so far this year, she said, amounting to about 20 percent of all hires.

In a recent statement, Matthew K. Rose, BNSF's chairman, president and chief executive officer, summed up his company's philosophy of supporting employees who are past or present members of the U.S. military.  "We recognize and appreciate the sacrifice and service not only of the citizen-soldiers who are members of Team BNSF," Rose said, "but of all of America's heroes who have answered the call to serve and defend our country since Sept. 11, 2001."

John Lanigan, BNSF's executive vice president and chief marketing officer, will accept the DoD award at a Sept. 21 ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recognizes U.S. employers that rise above the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a DoD agency, manages the award process.

ESGR assists Guard and Reserve members and their employers understand employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations, benefits and remedies under the act.

In February, BNSF underlined its commitment to those who serve in the National Guard or Reserve, McLendon said, by signing ESGR's "5-Star Statement of Support." Very few employers of National Guardsmen and reservists have achieved such status, which recognizes patriotism and high standards of employee support, she said.

Formerly known as Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, BNSF Railway is one of America's largest railroads. Its more than 6,000 locomotives and 220,000 freight cars ship automobiles, timber, minerals, food, chemicals and metals over 32,000 miles of track, serving 28 western states and two Canadian provinces, company officials said.

and i posted some pictures up - well here are some more from that day that i didnt post last time... i also took some today onmy walk back from my grandparents. took 5 today but they can wait till tomorrow....

here is a look back the way we have walked... there is like a tower block in the right hand side on the top of the hill and some like spot lights  in the centre on the hill... well that is where my university is

This next picture is looking the way we were walking towards the railway bridge...

The days lately have been beautiful - sunny but extremely cold.... and when the sun sets - wow.

This next picture well we walked up to the railway bridge and walked over but i was really dissappointed- not with the view but because of the damn railing.... have a look you can see waht i mean

But stil that is one of my fave pictures :)

This next one well i just had too.. my friend amy wanted to stay up to feel the wind when the train passed but there was none going pass us but then low and behold when we had climbed the stairs what goes ...

A train....

well those are the pictures for today. i should have the ones i took today up on my blog tomorrow:) i took more from the above walk but just showed you the ones i liked - there are others. if you want to look at them just let me know.

hope you are all well.