Giving Our Military A DAY OF FREE!

News from the organizers of Freedom Day USA in Sonoma County:

On September 11, 2014, businesses across the United States will join in the 2nd Annual Freedom Day USA event, a national “thank you” movement for the members of the U.S. military, veterans and their immediate families. Each business participant will provide a thank-you gift to members of the military in the form of free services and goods on this one special day.

“The services provided to our country by these ladies and gentlemen are very much appreciated, and we want to show that appreciation,” said Dr. Kimberly Hubenette of Synergy Dental Group in Sonoma.

Dr. Hubenette is the local Freedom Day USA City Director for Sonoma, the Freedom Day Co-Director for California, and a member of the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley.

Last year, Synergy Dental Group took the lead in encouraging other businesses in the area to participate, calling and visiting businesses in person to tell them about Freedom Day and helping them sign up. Her dental practice team – who all donated their time to volunteer in the office that day – provided more than a dozen individuals with free dental exams, cleanings and fillings on Freedom Day.

Marian Apice, an 89-year-old veteran at the time, was one of the patients receiving complimentary care at Synergy last year. Apice joined the U.S. Navy in 1945 and served as a Seaman 1st Class, along with her husband, who was in the U.S. Army. She had four brothers who served in the military, and brought in a photograph to her dental appointment featuring herself with her brothers in uniform in 1945. Apice shared her story in a video filmed at Synergy on Freedom Day last year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWA7e-_8C5k

This year, the event is being spear-headed by the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley.

With the support of Rotary and the involvement of the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, Freedom Day participants will be included on a map of Sonoma detailing the locations at which military members may stop by and receive something free.

The Visitors Bureau will serve as “Freedom Day Headquarters,” providing a map pick-up location and serving as the backdrop for a group photo to be taken at 4:30 p.m. on Freedom Day of any active military or veterans who would like to be included.

“This is the first Rotary Club in the nation to take the leadership role in supporting Freedom Day in a community,” said Dr. Hubenette. “We’re very proud of our servicemen and servicewomen in Sonoma and proud that Rotary is helping to increase the impact and value of Freedom Day.”

Currently, the list of Sonoma businesses participating includes Adams Chiropractic Offices, Arroyo Veterinary Hospital, Walter & Pistole Law Offices, Red Grape Pizzeria, Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, Large Leather, the City of Sonoma, Field of Greens, Synergy Dental Group, Churchill Public Relations, Unicom Tax Service, Rabobank, and more.

“There’s still time for other businesses to join us in this national movement to thank the men and women of our Armed Forces,” said Dr. Hubenette. “Even up until the actual day of the event on September 11, businesses can make the decision to offer something to any U.S. military personnel who visits their business.”

A complete list of local participating businesses and the services they are providing can be found on www.FreedomDayUSA.org.

To learn more about this national movement or to sign your business up as a participant for future events, you can visit www.FreedomDayUSA.org or the event’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/FreedomDayUSA. For more information about the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley, visit www.sonomavalleyrotary.org.