Grace for Vets has announced that close to 4,000 professional car wash locations washed over 300,000 cars for free for military veterans and active-duty personnel on Veterans Day. Most locations offered free washes on both Sunday, which was actually Veterans Day, and Monday when the holiday was celebrated.
Founded in 2004 by Mike Mountz, then owner and CEO of Cloister Wash & Lube, Grace for Vets is a program that honors veterans and service personnel with free car washes on Veterans Day. This event has grown from one company, three locations, and 222 free washes to four countries, and over 300,000 free washes in 2018. Since its inception, the program has provided nearly 2,500,000 free washes.
Now an international program, the event unites the car wash industry each year on November 11. Whether observing Veterans Day, Remembrance Day, or Armistice Day, the industry comes together to provide free car washes to all veterans and service personnel.
“I am so pleased that Grace for Vets continues to grow and that we were able to provide a record number of free washes to our deserving soldiers and vets," said Grace for Vets president Mark Curtis. "I know it’s a small gesture to give them a free car wash in return for the sacrifices they and their families have made, but it is so appreciated. I know I speak for all my fellow operators who get calls and letters thanking them for participating.”