Freedom Day founder urges businesses to join military appreciation

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Hearing that West Virginia sends a proportionally higher number of citizens into the military than other states inspired a Clarksburg dentist to thank the troops.

But Dr. Robert Martino said he didn’t want to thank only veterans and active duty military members, but also their families who sacrifice.

“I always knew there was a sacrifice when the troops went off to foreign lands, but I really never thought about the families at home,” Martino said during the MetroNews-affiliated “Thursday Morning Conference Call” on the AJR News Network.

Gratitude is the basis of Freedom Day, slated for Sept. 10, a national outreach that has spread to 23 states. Business owners mark the day by offering their goods and services as a way of saying thank you.

Martino pitched his idea to other business people, though they weren’t initially sure how to execute it.

“They appreciated what the military did too, but really didn’t have an outlet to say thank you,” he said. “So what we’ve created is an outlet.”

“When he presented it to us, it certainly struck home for many of us who have military in our family,” said national marketing director Wendy Boyce said. “We all want to give back.”

From there, Freedom Day began to grow.

“We have a unique vehicle to give them services and goods and say ‘thank you,'” he said. “And it’s a chance not only to give them something but to say, ‘hey, thank you for your service.'”

In West Virginia, there are businesses spread across 24 cities participating.

“You don’t have to shut down the whole day like we do,” Martino said. “Maybe just do it for a couple of hours.”

“We support our military very well, and we do a great job with Freedom Day,” Martino said. “A lot of our businesses step up. I’m very proud of the fact that it started in West Virginia, and that we really support it as much as any state.”





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