Brown Bear to honor military with free car washes on Veterans Day

Published 1:47 pm Friday, November 6, 2009

As a way of saying thanks to the military, Brown Bear will be offering free “Bear Essential” car washes to current or former members of the military on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The free car washes also are being extended to all spouses who have a spouse currently deployed.

Please visit www.brownbear.com for a list of participating tunnel wash locations and hours.

“Our organization is proud to honor veterans and service personnel,” said Brown Bear President and founder Vic Odermat, himself a Marine Corps veteran. “While the washes are free, we know that freedom is not. This is a way for us to show our support and gives us a unique opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to people who sacrifice so incredibly for our freedom.”

Odermat said the offer will operate on an honor system and no verification or documentation is required. Drivers should identify themselves as a current or former member of the military to the wash attendant.

Odermat started Brown Bear in Seattle in 1957 with one location at 1800th Ave. W. in Seattle. Brown now owns and operates car washes throughout the Puget Sound area and Spokane.

The family-owned company, through its parent company, Car Wash Enterprises, Inc., owns and operates a total of 40 car wash facilities in the State, as well as a large network of gas stations and convenience stores. It is one of the largest privately held car wash chains in the U.S. and is widely recognized within the industry as being a leader in the environmental movement.