Posted on 05/27/2005 3:23:21 PM PDT by AZHua87
WASHINGTON, May 26, 2005 – Lowe's is set to present a special tribute to the U.S. military at the Coca Cola 600 Memorial Day Race May 29 in Concord, N.C. The nationwide home improvement chain is a main sponsor of Lowe's Motor Speedway, home of the annual NASCAR event. Lowe's also is part of DoD's America Supports You program, which showcases how Americans across the country are supporting the troops.
This year's race theme salutes those serving the cause of freedom in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places around the world, according to H. A. Wheeler, speedway president and general manager. As part of the appreciation, the racetrack has made 1,000 free tickets to Coca Cola 600 available to military personnel.
As part of pre-race activities, Wheeler will present Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Marine Gen. Peter Pace with the 2005 Stonewall Jackson Award. The award "recognizes a person, persons or unit that demonstrate, by example, the highest standards of patriotism through personal support of the military and the security of the United States of America," Wheeler wrote in a letter to Pace about the award.
"Your endless support of the ideals of our country and your military record in the service of our nation, in peace and war, has been instrumental in the development of our military, and second to none," Wheeler noted. "Your leadership in the Marine Corps, from rifle platoon leader in Vietnam through all levels of command, has certainly demonstrated that you are a leader.
As the first Marine Joint Chiefs vice chairman, Wheeler continued, "we know of no more deserving person to receive this award."
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper is also slated to attend.
Several military units will take part in pre-race activities. These include Army Reserve drill sergeants, who will form a driver cordon as the drivers are introduced, and members of the Golden Knights parachute demonstration team, who will participate in a remembrance event for the nation's fallen.
Also, 12 children of North Carolina servicemembers currently serving overseas will serve as race grand marshals.
Finalists from the popular television contest, "American Idol," will wrap up the pre-race with the national anthem, followed by a flyover of four Air Force F-15 fighters.
In the stands, 6,000 NASCAR fans will perform a card trick from their seats - spelling out the America Supports You logo and message with specially designed placards. Lowe's will give away America Supports You bumper stickers to fans.
Army- and Air Force-sponsored cars will race in this year's Coca Cola 600. Jimmy Johnson, last year's winner, will drive the Lowe's-sponsored Chevrolet racecar, No. 48. During all of May, National Military Appreciation Month, the decklid (trunk) of his car has sported the America Supports You logo in honor of the troops.
Lowe's joined ASY at the Pentagon May 5 during the first America Supports You Salute to the Men and Women of the Armed Forces. During that concert program, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld unveiled two cloth-draped Lowe's-sponsored NASCAR vehicles to the piped-in sound of roaring exhausts and a cheering Pentagon crowd.
As part of their appreciation to the military, Lowe's stores are providing a 10 percent discount today through May 30 to all active, reserve and retired servicemembers and their immediate families, according to information on the company's Web site. Customers must show military identification, and discounts are limited to purchases up to $2,000.
NASCAR fans support Troops
Their primary compettition, Home Depot, is also offering a servicemember discount this weekend. Since there's a Home Depot in my town and no Lowes, I took advantage at HD today.
Well I'm pretty sure Home Depot woudn't be a major sponsor of the Lowe's Motor Speedway! ;-)
For the race thread.
Sure beats the middle finger the CEO/CFO of PepsiCo gave Americans last week.
NASCAR Coca Cola 600 from Charlotte, on FOX Sunday Night 5/29, at 5:30 pm ET ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1410528/posts
Apparently the hardware companies are. Of course, there's always been a strong bond between "Git 'er done" military types and hardware...
Nevertheless, good for them!!!
Enough to make me change from Diet Pepsi to Diet Coke.
Roger That!
NASCAR fans support Troops,Bump.
Why does the headline say that Coca Cola is honoring the troops instead of saying Lowes is, as the article makes clear?
Don't know you'd have to ask the source.
In the early 1970s, scrawled on a wall in Berkeley, CA, I read:
I sought my God but my God I could not see.
I sought my soul, but my soul eluded me.
I sought my brother, and I found all three.
Thank you, U.S.A. Military, past and present and future.
Thanks for the ping!
Take that, Pepsi :-)
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