BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — It’s a day of free for a lifetime of freedom.
That is the national tagline for Freedom Day USA, taking place this year on Thursday, October 11. The day was founded in West Virginia as businesses nationwide now participate in the day that gives free services, goods, discounts, and other offers to military and veterans.
“We want it to be that wherever veterans and military go today, its free for them,” Freedom Day USA National Director Wendy Boyce said. “We wouldn’t be able to live here and work and do as we please without their service and the sacrifices they had made for us.”
This year is year six of Freedom Day USA and nearly 1,000 businesses nationwide are participating with around 200 of those just in West Virginia.
Freedom Day USA has grown every year since its inception. According to Boyce, year one saw around 30 businesses in West Virginia and 150 businesses nationwide participate.
“Once we developed the Freedom Day USA event, an amazing thing happened,” Boyce said. “Dental teams and businesses across the country jumped on board.”
“We want our veterans to know how much we appreciate them, it’s really important to us to be able to say thank you.”
As part of Freedom Day USA, Wilson Martino Dental and TLC Dental have provided free dental appointments in Bridgeport, Buckhannon, Elkins, Fairmont, and Morgantown. Free dental is just part of the thank you to military and veterans on Freedom Day USA, as restaurants and stores are also offering a thank you with discounts.
A complete list of participating businesses in a certain area can be found by clicking here.
“The veterans enjoy the day,” Boyce said. “We hear a lot of positive comments. They appreciate that the business community has came together to say thank you. We have great relationships with them and it’s fun to hear the stories they tell. We have a lot of older veterans in our communities as well, so be able to sit down with them while they are getting their free services and chat, it’s a great experience for everybody.”
According to Boyce, preparation for Freedom Day USA begins in January every year and is a grassroots campaign.