Posted on May 23, 2014
1SG Senior Maintenance Supervisor
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I'm not being ungrateful, but I'm wondering what the motive is, nothing is simply patriotic in the business world.
Why do sports teams, NASCAR, businesses etc. do Military Appreciation events and are they genuinely there to help the Military community? Or are they trying to look like the good guy in front of the public.

I Got free Military Appreciation tickets to an MLB baseball game one time and the seats were literally as far up and as high as one could get in the stadium. I was fearful that I was there, but I didn't feel very appreciated. Then I found out the ticket cost $5. Loved being at m the game though.
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PO1 G. Leslie /Stiltner
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I feel its a little of both!! I own a business and we are one of the few store in the Mall that offer a Military Discount, not just for the Military member but their dependents and spouse also As the toughest job in the Military is that of a Military Spouse!! I know I have been in both roles. I think Big Corporations do it more for the bottom line.
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1SG Senior Maintenance Supervisor
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Thank you for the support.
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1SG Senior Maintenance Supervisor
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Do you feel that it is a bad thing for these big corporations to do these events or is it does it serve a greater purpose of promotion the Soldiers and the military? I know that the American people generally speaking are a lot more sympathetic to the military than they were many years ago. It seems they are able to separate disagreeing with the war effort with support for the troops.
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PO1 G. Leslie /Stiltner
PO1 G. Leslie /Stiltner
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I think big Corporations do it for money!! I think a good hometown parade or crawfish boil put on my a local business for military folks is great and although its good advertisement for the business, they are usually small and most likely have a military history in their family and their appreciation is way more sincere.
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PO1 Translator
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I've had the free tickets to a ball game before as well, yeah the seats definitely suck. I appreciate the gesture, but I don't mind forking over the extra cash to sit down on the field. We bring in our own waters and peanuts so we don't have to sell our first born to buy the stadium food.

I also won't wear my uniform to any big corporate freebies. They're not paying me any money, why should I give them free advertisement (I feel the same way about car dealership stickers).

In the long term, I think businesses do want to help out but it's still about the bottom dollar. They're not going to just give away $300 dollar seats. It seems like a lot of the big corporations try to just skate by by donating to WWP, which is a different discussion all upon its own.
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Capt Whitney Davis
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If the motive was simply to help, or to say thank you, these businesses wouldn't advertise it nationally as the professional sports leagues do. Mind you, there are many businesses that quietly help active duty and veterans but you can bet that when Budweiser hosts a lieutenant's coming home party it isn't because they're respectful of his service. It's because they can make it into a Super Bowl commercial and use those patriotic, thankful, somewhat guilty feelings that the average public has to sell beer.

That said, take advantage of these offers when they are made. Many of these businesses are certainly taking advantage of you.
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1SG Senior Maintenance Supervisor
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I agree, but in sporting events the people often times take over and create a truly special event. Goose bump events. Special NASCAR, with their flyover and stuff. Love it. I don't buy my tickets because they do stuff like this, but I definitely have a more positive image of them for doing it.
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SSG Aircraft Mechanic
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Capt Whitney Davis , if you're talking about the same LT I'm thinking of, I was deployed with that guy.
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