This November, CARSTAR Collision Centers will honor America’s active duty and military veterans with a special celebration for National Military Month. It will include a national recognition program, local market festivities for Veterans Day on Nov. 11, and special fundraising initiatives to help families of those serving the country.
CARSTAR is working with national and local military support groups at nearly 60 locations around the country. These CARSTAR stores will be participating in Veterans Day parades, hosting celebrations for local military members and saluting the many contributions made by America’s military members.
"As a veteran and longtime supporter of our military, I’m proud that we are embarking on the second year of a program at our facilities to help the heroes who serve our country and their families," said Dick Cross, chairman and CEO, who served for four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. His military service culminated in a post as a top secret, special intelligence officer on the staff of Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, then the Chief of Naval Operations.
As part of the celebration, CARSTAR will partner with the VFW Foundation on its "Return the Favor" national campaign designed to boost morale and fill in governmental assistance gaps for troops (all service branches) and military families anywhere in the U.S.
At participating CARSTAR stores, customers can make a donation of $5 and have their name featured on the "Return the Favor" donation cards featured in the store. All monetary donations raised will be split between the VFW Foundation and the local VFW post. Many CARSTAR locations are also holding "Adopt a Troop" donation programs in conjunction with their local VFW posts to collect supplies for the troops.
All of the St. Louis area CARSTAR Collision Centers will be collecting cell phones in conjunction with the USO and other sponsors (Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Traveler’s Insurance) and converting funds raised into International Calling Cards. These will be distributed before and after Christmas when over 6,500 troops come through Lambert International Airport on a single day, which is called "Green Day" because the entire airport is overrun with military members.
The stores also will be working with the VFW to distribute free "Return the Favor" packets to active or veteran military members and their families, which include generous offers from local businesses that want to show their support for the military in the St. Louis area.
Procraft CARSTAR in Great Falls, Mt., is honoring active duty military, veterans and their families all through November. They can stop into the shop to pick up a bag of coupons donated by local businesses and register for a $100 Hertz rental certificate drawing. Two food events — coffee and doughnuts in the morning and a chicken lunch at noon — will be held on Veterans Day in partnership with a local grocery store. The Red Cross will be present at the lunch to share information on the services they provide to the military and will also have a Happy Holidays table to sign greeting cards for deployed military. Area residents can participate any time during the month by making a $5 donation to the VFW’s Return the Favor program.
Wicklund’s CARSTAR in Liberty, Mo., will be hosting a grand military appreciation celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 9, beginning at 5 p.m. The event will be free for veterans and active military personnel and their families. Wicklund’s CARSTAR will offer prizes, food, soft drinks and beer, and the Kansas City Royals will distribute t-shirts to the first 600 attendees. The event also will serve as a fundraiser for the VFW Foundation with funds raised matched by CARSTAR and Hertz.
"It’s an honor to be able to give back to our military members and their families who make so many contributions to protect our freedom and way of life," said Cross. "We encourage CARSTAR customers across the country to help support this important effort."
In the past 20 years, CARSTAR has worked closely with military support groups and other philanthropic groups to help repair vehicles for families in need.
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