WASHINGTON: Showing gratitude through action is a common theme across brands and organizations this Veterans Day as companies look to honor those who’ve served.
Some companies have made the effort to "look behind the uniform" and raise national awareness of the men and women who serve, said Erin Hazard, SVP, partner, and lead of FleishmanHillard's military and veterans affairs group.
Hiring initiatives have evolved over the past two to three years, she said, "putting the right people in the right positions" to help set them up for success. Veterans have various skill sets they can offer a company, she added, such as leadership and IT and logistics expertise.
Events are becoming more local, too, said Hazard, with brands trying to better engage servicemen and women.
"Less than 5% of the American population has an active connection with somebody who wears a uniform," she explained
Corporate initiatives
Hazard said Walmart has hired nearly 68,000 veterans and has made around 5,000 promotions in that space in the past year.
"People truly want to move beyond just a ‘feel good’ program," she said. "They want to move in to programs that make a lot of good business sense for service members as well."
A Starbucks representative told PRWeek that more than 1,000 veterans and military spouses have been hired following the company’s initiative to welcome a total of 10,000 new staffers. The brand’s goal is to bring on 2,000 additional veterans and military spouses in the next year.
"These partners are now identifiable in stores by the embroidered American flag on their iconic green apron, something available only to our veteran and military spouse partners," the representative added via email.
Veterans & military spouses come in & enjoy a free tall brewed coffee on Veterans Day—Nov 11. Participating US stores pic.twitter.com/wJSo1tnsiY
— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) November 10, 2014
Service and pro sports
National Basketball League and National Football League players honored service members during games this week in the gear they wore and through other initiatives supported by the leagues and specific teams. Both organizations sported updated Twitter photos in honor of the nation’s veterans.
Video: Bucks visit the VA Medical Center yesterday » http://t.co/Nce2gzJCuF #HoopsForTroops pic.twitter.com/zTOhfQOTGn
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 11, 2014
#Wizards showing love to TAPS families after practice #HoopsForTroops http://t.co/nqQP2zxUZe
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) November 11, 2014
Service Men and Women in attendance being given a standing ovation by the @UnitedCenter crowd. #HoopsForTroops
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 11, 2014
Lions surprise troops at Yellow Ribbon homecoming: The 1460th transportation company came home from Afghanista... http://t.co/bVdIzMoXcu
— NFL (@NFL_Links) November 11, 2014
Sgt. Michael Kimmerling surprised his wife at Lambeau Field during #CHIvsGB: http://t.co/7O39m9xp4U #SaluteToService pic.twitter.com/TCY3S1Wypt
— NFL Now (@NFLNow) November 11, 2014
On this day. And every day. We salute you. #VeteransDay #SaluteToService pic.twitter.com/5MUwfACoiZ
— NFL (@nfl) November 11, 2014
Here are other companies honoring veterans on Twitter:
Duty calls one of our veterans to give a proper burial to fallen heroes. Watch his labor of love now. http://t.co/Vu3ptnxBSR
— AT&T (@ATT) November 10, 2014
Your service provides freedom for our country's future. Honoring Veterans all year long. http://t.co/lAs23r2Z4X #ThoseWhoDared
— USAA (@USAA) November 11, 2014
This #VeteransDay, join 2 @wwpinc alumni on journey through Alaska on a mission of veteran brotherhood #ProjectTitan https://t.co/w6y4BhFjnU
— Nissan Trucks (@NissanTrucks) November 10, 2014
Happy Veteran's Day & thank you to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country. We salute you!
— McDonald's (@McDonaldsCorp) November 11, 2014
This story was updated on November 13 with the most recent number of Walmart promotions targeting veterans.
