Grace for Vets

[Waxman]

Our Grace for Vets wash is going well; washed dozens free already!

How is yours going???

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Until about 11 AM I had only given away one wash. The free wash biz has picked up and 2 1/2 hrs later I am up to about 15.

 

[ted mcmeekin]

Our Grace for Vets wash is going well; washed dozens free already!

How is yours going???

about 20 so far and picking up

a fitting poem for today:

Very Powerful and True. Remember Veteran's Day -November 11th
>
>
> A POEM WORTH READING
>
>
> He was getting old and paunchy
> And his hair was falling fast,
> And he sat around the Legion,
> Telling stories of the past.
>
>
> Of a war that he once fought in
> And the deeds that he had done,
> In his exploits with his buddies;
> They were heroes, every one.
>
>
> And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
> His tales became a joke,
> All his buddies listened quietly
> For they knew where of he spoke.
>
>
> But we'll hear his tales no longer,
> For ol' Joe has passed away,
> And the world's a little poorer
> For a Veteran died today.
>
>
> He won't be mourned by many,
> Just his children and his wife.
> For he lived an ordinary,
> Very quiet sort of life.
>
>
> He held a job and raised a family,
> Going quietly on his way;
> And the world won't note his passing,
> 'Tho a Veteran died today.
>
>
> When politicians leave this earth,
> Their bodies lie in state,
> While thousands note their passing,
> And proclaim that they were great.
>
>
> Papers tell of their life stories
> From the time that they were young,
> But the passing of a Veteran
> Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
>
>
> Is the greatest contribution
> To the welfare of our land,
> Some jerk who breaks his promise
> And cons his fellow man?
>
>
> Or the ordinary fellow
> Who in times of war and strife,
> Goes off to serve his country
> And offers up his life?
>
>
> The politician's stipend
> And the style in which he lives,
> Are often disproportionate,
> To the service that he gives.
>
>
> While the ordinary Veteran,
> Who offered up his all,
> Is paid off with a medal
> And perhaps a pension, small.
>
>
> It is not the politicians
> With their compromise and ploys,
> Who won for us the freedom
> That our country now enjoys.
>
>
> Should you find yourself in danger,
> With your enemies at hand,
> Would you really want some cop-out,
> With his ever-waffling stand?
>
>
> Or would you want a Veteran
> His home, his country, his kin,
> Just a common Veteran,
> Who would fight until the end.
>
>
> He was just a common Veteran,
> And his ranks are growing thin,
> But his presence should remind us
> We may need his likes again.
>
>
> For when countries are in conflict,
> We find the Veteran's part,
> Is to clean up all the troubles
> That the politicians start.
>
>
> If we cannot do him honor
> While he's here to hear the praise,
> Then at least let's give him homage
> At the ending of his days.
>
>
> Perhaps just a simple headline
> In the paper that might say:
> "OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
> A VETERAN DIED TODAY."
>
>
> PLEASE pass On The Patriotism! YOU can make a difference.
> If you are proud of our Vets, then send this to them. You'll be glad you
did.
> Then send it to ALL your friends.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Most of that could have been written about my dad, whom we lost less than two years ago. I do miss all of his Navy stories, and well, all of his stories. I'll have to say I did get a little lump in my throat while chatting with one of the vets. He was a member of the honor guard that had performed the 21 gun salute at my dad's funeral. He had known my dad and had fond memories of him as well.

 

[MudMoney]

Here in north central montana we got 3 inches of snow and 15 degrees.I ran radio ads on three stations today about free washes due to the weather I put a sign out front for "snowcheck" come into my office to get tokens.I had vets all day telling me their service stories and I enjoyed every minute of it.

 

[Ric]

Awful weather. Rain all day turning to wet snow mid afternoon. We still had 2-3 per hour come in. We gave some tokens to come back on a nice day. We've been doing this for 20+ years.

 

[ted mcmeekin]

My so got innovative on our reader board:

Freedom is not free but a car wash for our veterans is.

Ted

 

[thoffmanjr]

What a home run this can be for your company. Being able to honor our Veterans with a free service is the least we can do for the blessings we all enjoy. This was our 8th year in a row and our first year where we offered a free oil change at any of our 10 Jiffy Lube locations. Mobil Oil donated 90 cases of Mobil One and we put what ever grade of oil in our veteran's cars that they requested. We saw a ton of new customers and the response was incredible. We averaged 240 oil changes per store. We staffed up and didn't get bogged down in other services to be able to satisfy as many as possible. They were wrapped around the building all day. It is by far our favorite event of the year. The lingering good will is priceless. We get flooded with thank you emails too. The car washes do great too. We washed about 5,000 veterans between our 13 tunnel locations. I can't emphasize enough what a great promotion this has become.

 

[Tom Thumb]

Veterans Day is always a great day at the wash no matter how many cars we wash , it's the pleasure in meeting and talking with all the great veterans we have in this country.

 

[Waxman]

Veterans Day is always a great day at the wash no matter how many cars we wash , it's the pleasure in meeting and talking with all the great veterans we have in this country.

That's exactly how I feel. I had an uncle who died a week ago. He was in the Army and I dedicated the whole event to his memory and it felt really good.

 

[PaulLovesJamie]

A few years ago my son commented that on Grace For Vets day we needed help due to the number of older (WW2 & Korean war) vets. He decided to get help from his classmates - so for the last 3 years he organized having the HS National Honor Society spend the day at our wash. He got permission from the school board to have the 20 brightest kids in the high school spend the day working for and chatting with veterans, he checked our insurance, got teachers to volunteer to shuttle the kids to/from school, etc etc...

I dont think I need to comment on how fantastic this has been, but wow. Heck with the promotional benefits, the emotional and social impact on our "best and brightest" was incredible. (yes ok, me too.)
We've had disabled vets cry and hug the kids.
We've had WWII vets in their 90s in uniform saluting each other in the lot, talking for hours.
We had a 97 year old woman talking to the young ladies about her WWII experience in Europe for over an hour.
We have a Korean vet bring his fully restored WWII jeep for the kids to see - complete with all accessories & trailer. (No he wouldnt sell it to me!)
We have vets bringing photo albums, medals, etc.

Due to the cold and wind, this year was not a real busy veterans day at our small rural wash, but a great day never the less.