Mom Returns From Afghanistan to Surprise Her Children at Six Flags
St. Louis
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 3, 2013--
Discover and Operation Homefront have teamed up to reunite a U.S.
military family, the Ericksons, at Six Flags St. Louis in Missouri. Army
National Guard Sgt. Ashley Erickson surprised her three children,
Parris, Nova and Evan, at a special Six Flags ceremony after returning
from a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan.
As a way to show gratitude for military service members, Discover flew
Sgt. Erickson’s husband, Cpl. Maurice Erickson, and their three children
from Ft. Stewart Georgia to Six Flags St. Louis for an all-expense paid
VIP experience. The surprise homecoming was planned to coincide with the
theme park’s celebratory Salute to Heroes event that featured a Boeing
B-52 Stratofortress and a TBF Avenger aircraft fly-over as a salute to
all active and veteran military service members. Discover employees who
are veteran service members acted as greeters for the family and other
service members entering the park for the day.
“My husband and I are ecstatic,” said Sgt. Erickson. “This is a once in
a lifetime experience, to have Operation Homefront and Discover do this
for us is like nothing I could have ever imagined. Thank you Operation
Homefront and Discover for giving my family this opportunity.”
Today’s experience was special to the Ericksons because Maurice leaves
in 16 days for a one-year remote tour in Korea.
“This reunion created a lifetime of memories for the Ericksons and we
are incredibly thankful, and honored, to have been able to make this
powerful connection happen for them,” said Laura Gingiss, Discover
spokeswoman. “The Ericksons are heroes who truly deserved every second
of this day and we wouldn’t have been able to make this happen if it
wasn’t for the help and support of our partners, Operation Homefront and
Six Flags.”
Operation Homefront has been a Cashback Bonus charitable partner
with Discover for more than five years. To date, more than $300,000 has
been donated to Operation Homefront by Discover and its cardmembers.
Through the program, Discover cardmembers may designate their Cashback
Bonus to Operation Homefront starting at a donation of $20. In
conjunction with today’s surprise homecoming event, Discover will be
donating up to $10,000 to Operation Homefront on a national level and up
to $5,000 to the organization’s Kansas-Missouri Field Office.
“Discover and its cardmembers have been steadfast supporters of our
Armed Forces,” said Tim Farrell, Chief Operating Officer for Operation
Homefront. “Today’s reunion for the Erickson family is a very concrete
and personal demonstration of that support, and we’re grateful to
Discover and Six Flags for helping us celebrate America’s military
families.”
“It is a privilege for Six Flags St. Louis to recognize the men and
women who serve our country each year during our Salute to Heroes
event,” stated Dave Roemer, Six Flags St. Louis park president. “We are
so very pleased to partner with Discover and Operation Homefront to
reunite this military family in a surprise homecoming. It is truly an
honor to have the opportunity to give back to those who give so much to
our country.”
About Discover
Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment
services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S.
financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become
one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company
operates the Discover card, America’s cash rewards pioneer, and offers
home loans, private student loans, personal loans, checking and savings
accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its
direct banking business. Its payment businesses consist of Discover
Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one
of the nation’s leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club
International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than
185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.
About Operation Homefront
A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500
volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other
financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded
warriors. Operation Homefront has met more than 750,000 needs of
military families since its inception in 2002. A four-star rated charity
by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally 95 percent of total revenue
donated to Operation Homefront goes directly to programs that provide
support to our military families. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.
About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional
theme park company with $1.1 billion in revenue and 18 parks across the
United States, Mexico and Canada. For more than 50 years, Six Flags has
entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed
rides, thrilling water parks and unique attractions including up-close
animal encounters, Fright Fest® and Holiday in the Park®.
For more information, visit www.sixflags.com.
Source: Discover Financial Services
Discover
Katie Henry, 224-405-4437
KathrynHenry@discover.com
or
Operation
Homefront
Aaron Taylor, 202-744-1326
Aaron.Taylor@OperationHomefront.net
or
Six
Flags St. Louis
Elizabeth G. Gotway, 636-938-5300, Ext. 328
egotway@sftp.com