Ford Partners with PBS on Airing of 'For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots'

-- Ford is the automotive exclusive sponsor of "For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots"

-- "For Love of Liberty" will air on PBS stations across the country during the month of February—Documentary scheduled to air on WTVSDT in Detroit on Monday, Feb. 15

-- The film is an unprecedented, untold documentation of the African American experience in the U.S. military

DEARBORN, Mich., -- Ford Motor Company is helping to tell the untold story of African Americans in the military as part of a partnership with PBS on the airing of "For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots." The partnership comes as Ford also hosts its Annual Black History Month Celebration in Detroit on Friday, Feb. 19.

"For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots" premiers on most Public Broadcasting System stations nationwide throughout the month. Presented by Maryland Public Television, this is a powerful documentary television series that salutes our African-American service men and women and reveres their dedicated allegiance to the United States military. The four-hour high-definition (HD) film will air in two parts on PBS stations across the country.

"We are honored to partner with PBS on a film that not only chronicles a story that had yet to be told, but does so with so much passion," said Crystal Worthem, Multicultural Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company. "This is a story that all of us in America no matter the race, can appreciate as it celebrates those who risked their lives for this country. To be able to partner on a documentary that tells such a remarkable story and does so with the support of some of the biggest entertainers and public figures of today was just one of the reasons why we decided to move forward with this partnership."

"For Love of Liberty" introduces men and women whose lives make up the fabric of this inspiring and often heart-breaking story. Their compelling first-hand accounts are told through dramatic, off-camera readings by a Who's Who of major entertainers and public figures. Those who lent their voices include: Morgan Freeman, Mel Gibson, Susan Sarandon,Louis Gossett Jr., John Travolta, Robert Duvall, Danny Glover, Sam Elliot and many others.

"It is a wonderful story of a group of Americans who never lost their love of this country, never lost their faith in it or what the Founding Fathers had promised them. And that's why this story is simply called, 'For Love of Liberty,'" says former U.S. Secretary of State and Army General Colin Powell in the film's introduction.

"For Love of Liberty" is set to air across the country on various PBS stations in February. The documentary will air on PBS inDetroit on Monday, February 15.

Ford, whose commitment to the African American community spans beyond Black History Month, will also be hosting their 29th Annual Black History Month Celebration on Friday, Feb. 19. Ford will be hosting a panel discussion lead by CNN's Soledad O'Brien, Syndicated Radio Personality Tom Joyner, TV One's Jonathan Rodgers, Director/Writer David Wilson and ESSENCE Magazine's Angela Burt-Murray.

For more information on the 29th Annual Black History Month Celebration please visit:http://faan2010bhmcelebration.eventbrite.com/

For more information on "For Love of Liberty please visit: www.forloveofliberty.org

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 198,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company