Source: Ethanol Across America
Washington, DC — The Clean Fuels Development Coalition, the Ethanol Across America education campaign, and the FlexFuel Vehicle (FFV) Club once again teamed with Volunteers of Underage Military Service (VUMS) yesterday with a procession of ethanol and hybrid vehicles in the national Memorial Day parade to highlight the role of energy and national security.
Capping a weekend of national remembrance for America's fallen soldiers, the parade through the streets of the nation's capitol featured hundreds of veterans with a crowd of more than 200,000 in attendance. The VUMS group represents the highest degree of dedication as it is comprised of veterans who enlisted despite being underage. Marine Lt. Col. (ret) William C. Holmberg, a VUM and a nationally recognized environmentalist and proponent of renewable energy like ethanol, conceived the idea several years ago to team the VUMS with groups promoting domestic alternatives to imported petroleum.
"Our slogan is There is no National Security without Energy Security," said Holmberg, a board member of the American Council On Renewable Energy. "Groups like CFDC, Ethanol Across America, the Flexible Fuel Vehicle Club, the Renewable Fuels Association, and ACORE work every day to increase that awareness. Marching together in the shadow of the WashingtonMonument, the Capitol, and the memorials helps people get the connection that much of the unrest around the globe has links to oil. Increasing our supply of domestic fuels makes our nation safer and more secure, plain and simple," he said.
The procession included the CFDC/Ethanol Across America FlexFuel Chevy Avalanche and the Flexible Fuel Vehicle Club's Chevy Tahoe, the Renewable Fuels Association’s Ford E85-Electric Hybrid Escape, and several electric hybrid vehicles.
"Under any circumstances it would be an honor for us to be part of the salute to all those who have served. Our generation sees the loss of jobs, wealth, and military cost of importing more than 60% of our oil, and we have an opportunity to do something about it," said Douglas A. Durante, Director of the Ethanol Across America program. "If reducing our dependence on oil keeps us out of one less conflict, and keeps young Americans from having to be memorialized, then we should all be working toward that goal."
According to FlexFuel Vehicle Club President Burl Haigwood, the parade provided an opportunity to increase public awareness that we can do something about it, right now. "With nearly 8 million flex fuel vehicles on the road today, if we ran those vehicles on clean, domestic fuels like ethanol we could reduce our reliance on unstable regimes and reduce the military costs of protecting our oil interests. Consumers can utilize the flex fuel vehicles they already own and look at the flex fuel vehicle option for future purchases," said Haigwood.
Col. Holmberg concluded the day’s events stating “Alternative fuel, high-mileage vehicles and ethanol are our front lines in securing a more secure energy future for America, and, by the way, major artillery in our climate change battles.” .
For more information on the Ethanol Across America campaign, the FlexFuel Vehicle Club, or issues relating to ethanol and biofuels, please visit http://www.ethanolacrossamerica.org. For information on the Veterans of Underage Military Service please contact William C. Holmberg at biorefiner@aol.com.
