Businesses throughout 19 West Virginia towns ready for day of military gratitude

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Businesses around West Virginia and 26 other states will use September 8 as a day to give back and thank veterans and active service members for their military service.

The now annual “Freedom Day USA” brings together a wide variety of businesses in the service industry, healthcare and others to offer discounted services to any former or active military member–but it all began in Clarksburg with some free dental work from Dr. Robert Martino of Wilson Martino Dental.

“Our goal is to be able to say ‘thank you,'” Wendy Boyce, the Freedom Day USA National Marketing Director, said Wednesday on the MetroNews-affiliated “The Mike Queen Show” on the AJR News Network. “We appreciate everything that these folks have done for us, and so we are giving back.”

Boyce, who also works at Wilson Martino Dental, said that many offices will offer dental work for vets and active service members, which is how Freedom Day USA started.

“There’s a lot going on, not only at our offices, but in other businesses around the state as well,” she said.

Businesses in 19 West Virginia cities in 15 different counties are scheduled to participate Thursday.

“The businesses are coming together to give what they can,” Boyce said. “It’s services that we already provide, talents that we already have, and we are using those to say ‘thank you’ to the ones who have given so much to us.”

Boyce said September 8 does not have any significant meaning, which is one of the reasons they chose it.

“We wanted to pick a day that, one, didn’t fall on a national holiday,” she said. “The kids are back in school. Businesses have a little bit more time to dedicate to a thank you. There’s nothing really significant about the day as far as an honorary day or anything like that until now. Now, it’s Freedom Day USA.”

For a full list of participating businesses in West Virginia, click here.





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