For the second year in a row, BHP Billiton served as the presenting sponsor of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Armed Forces Appreciation Day, joining the Rodeo’s efforts to honour active-duty servicemen and servicewomen and military veterans.

Held this this year on 4 March, Armed Forces Appreciation Day honours members of the U.S. military, past and present. Service men and women in uniform and with a military ID, along with their spouses and children, receive free admission to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s NRG Park on that day. Veterans, families, friends and the public are encouraged to come out and show appreciation for the troops. More than 5,000 soldiers, veterans and family members attended the event.

"BHP Billiton is proud of our partnership with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo — an organization that does so much for the community through scholarships and educational support," said Fred Hagemeyer, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Petroleum. "And, today, serving as sponsor of Armed Forces Appreciation Day, gives us a chance to say thank you to those who have given so much to our country."

In support of the Company’s sponsorship, some 175 BHP Billiton employees — including numerous military veterans and reservists — volunteered for the day through the Rodeo’s Random Acts of Kindness program. Volunteers performed small niceties for attendees, such as passing out hand sanitizer, sunscreen, taking photos, giving directions, providing food vouchers and carnival tickets and more.

"As a military veteran, it was a source of pride to represent BHP Billiton in the rodeo festivities for the second year in a row," said David Pearson, Senior Facilities Project Specialist. "The active duty personnel, veterans and their families were excited to be there. I found the opportunity to welcome them and thank them for their service to be personally rewarding. BHP Billiton showed, once again, it stands behind our military and the community through its words, and more importantly, its actions."