Ford created the Hall of Heroes together with the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. Its purpose is to honor those who go above and beyond the call of duty to give back to active-duty military, military veterans and military families.

As we approach Memorial Day, Ford will welcome another inductee into the Ford Proud to Honor Hall of Heroes, Marquerite “Maya” Herzog. Driven by a deep sense of patriotism and a family tradition of Naval service, Maya served for nine years in the Navy. As a Black woman in the military, Maya initially struggled with biases and preconceptions, but soon learned how to navigate them.

After her service, Maya, who is a 2017 Tillman Scholar, continued to serve the greater good by pursuing a science career that could lead to new mental health treatments for issues that tend to plague military communities. Her research as a biology doctoral student at the University of Texas Arlington seeks to uncover genetic mechanisms that contribute to chronic depression and PTSD-like behavioral conditions.

Maya will be invited to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement week in Canton, Ohio and attend exclusive events like the Gold Jacket Ceremony. Ford will also be donating $10,000 to the Pat Tillman Foundation on Maya’s behalf.

Since 2020, Ford and its dealers have donated $4 million to military charities as part of the Proud to Honor Program.

Ford employs approximately 6,000 veterans and through its Proud to Honor initiative, it works to raise awareness for members of the military, to strengthen existing programs and create an even more meaningful connection with those serving their country.