Release # 0106-06-1248
Anheuser-Busch extends military tribute
Jan. 03, 2006
ST. LOUIS -- A tribute program that provided free admission to Anheuser-Busch theme parks to more than 900,000 members of U.S. and coalition armed forces and their families has been extended through 2006. Anheuser-Busch launched "Here's to the Heroes" in February 2005 to acknowledge the service of military men and women and the sacrifices made by their families.
"It is gratifying to all of us at Anheuser-Busch that so many members of our armed forces took advantage of this program and honored us with a visit," said Keith M. Kasen, chairman and president of Busch Entertainment Corporation, the family entertainment division of Anheuser-Busch. "This is a difficult time for our men and women in uniform and we are honored to give them something back."
Here's to the Heroes provides a single day's free admission to any one SeaWorld or Busch Gardens park, Sesame Place, Adventure Island or Water Country USA for the service member and as many as three of his or her direct dependents. Any active duty, active reserve, ready reserve service member or National Guardsman is entitled to free admission under the program.
He or she need only register, either online at
http://www.herosalute.com/ or in the entrance plaza of a participating park, and show a Department of Defense photo ID. Also included in the offer are members of foreign military forces serving in the coalitions in Iraq or Afghanistan or attached to American units in the U.S. for training.
"This is one small way we can acknowledge and thank the soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Coast Guardsmen whose service helps to preserve the freedom and safety of every American," Kasen said. "It's important to all of us at Anheuser-Busch that we show our gratitude to the men and women of our armed forces and their families for the sacrifices they make on our behalf."
Here's to the Heroes is the fourth tribute to military personnel offered by Anheuser-Busch since Yellow Ribbon Summer welcomed service members home from the Gulf War in 1991. More than 3 million people have visited Anheuser- Busch Adventure Parks free under these programs. Anheuser-Busch has supported the military for more than 150 years, and in 2005 launched the Here's to the Heroes Tour, which allowed everyday Americans to record video messages of support and thanks for the men and women of the U.S. military.
The Heroes Tour traveled more than 29,000 miles to towns and events across America from April through December, collecting messages from more than 11,000 Americans. Working with the America Supports You program, the messages were aired on American Forces Radio and Television Service on U.S. military bases in more than 177 countries and on 150 bases in the United States throughout 2005.
Three Anheuser-Busch parks -- SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld San Diego -- operate year round. The company's remaining parks are seasonal, with varying opening dates this spring. Each park's operating schedule is available online.
Inactive, standby and retired reserve members, military retirees, U.S. Merchant Marine and civilian Department of Defense workers are ineligible for the program.
Anheuser-Busch operates nine U.S. theme parks: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Busch Gardens Williamsburg; SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld San Antonio; Discovery Cove in Orlando; Sesame Place near Philadelphia; Water Country USA in Williamsburg and Adventure Island in Tampa.
Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks play host to more than 20 million guests each year.
