BRIDGEPORT, W. Va. — Over 160 businesses in West Virginia on Thursday will be participating in a day which offers free or discounted goods and services to military members and their families.
“Our goal is one day to have a national day that they go anywhere they want and get free services, free food and appreciation so they know that we care about them,” Dr. Robert Martino, Founder of Freedom Day said.
This was the idea for Freedom Day Martino developed one day while grumbling about the tasks he had to accomplish when he heard a song with messages from people missing their family members currently serving in the armed forces. The magnitude of the sacrifice they all made him realize his problems were not nearly as significant in comparison and became determined to find a way to help.
“We appreciate what they do, but what do we do to actually show them,” he thought. “I thought ‘I have seven dental offices throughout the state. I’ll shut them down and we’ll do these free services.'”
From there, the idea caught on when Martino shared it with his colleagues in the Platinum Circle, a group of dentists who practice throughout our country.
Soon, word spread and other businesses in 43 states joined in the effort.
“It is now in all kinds of different professions,” Martino said. “Restaurants, bowling alleys, golf courses all across the United States.”
Last year, Martino said over 20,000 military members and their families recieved over $4 million worth of services in total, and they hope to surpass that mark this year.
Though Martino said providing these services for one day is the least they could do, it is important to him to show those who sacrifice do not go unappreciated.
“I don’t think if we’re going to change anybody’s life from getting them a free cleaning, or doing a free filling or letting them play golf for free,” he said. “I think it’s about that they know that we care about the sacrifices that they’re making. They’re making huge sacrifices to keep us free.”
More information about Freedom Day, including a list of participating businesses can be found at freedomdayusa.org.