A week ago yesterday, veterans and troops arrived at SSCP-owned Applebee’s restaurants, 72 spanning from Northern California to Virginia with the majority in SSCP’s home state of Texas, expecting an exceptional free meal on Veterans Day and they got more than they expected.
The surprise extra on their special day was that their neighbors pre-bought 10,072 Budweiser beers in their honor so they all could enjoy the choice of an ice-cold Budweiser, Bud Light or Budweiser Zero for FREE. Due to the popularity of the BUY A VET A BUD progam, SSCP Applebee’s guests bought way more Buds than were necessary.
In all, 4,243 free Bud beers were claimed. SSCP is donating more than $21,000 from unclaimed Buds to Folds of Honor, which allows dependents of fallen service members or first responders to pursue an education, perhaps otherwise unattainable.
“The smiles and tears of joy at our restaurants told an unforgettable story on Veterans Day,” said SSCP’s Senior Director of Marketing Blake Roe. “When our local heros realized that their neighbors, perhaps ones they did not know, thought enough of their service and sacrifices to buy them a beer sight unseen, their reaction was disbelief or elation and sometimes both. It meant a lot to our team members too as they realized the opportunity to serve was based on the freedom these men and women provided and continue to provide.”