As part of NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola, NASCAR and Coca-Cola will host Gold Star Families during race weekend. Gold Star Families are those who have lost an immediate family member due to active-duty military service. As part of the ceremony, each NASCAR Cup Series car will feature the name of a fallen service member on the windshield.
In the weeks leading up to the Coca-Cola 600, Coke Consolidated volunteers joined with Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte, NASCAR and the Charlotte Motor Speedway to complete critical home repairs for U.S. Army veteran Deborah Stewart. A video from the home improvement project will be shown on the jumbo screens (Speedway TV) during race weekend. Deborah and her son will also be guests in the Coke Consolidated suite at the speedway.
Deborah said she’s grateful to the volunteers who came together to make her home a safer place to live.
“I love it. I can’t believe this is happening,” said Deborah. “I really, really appreciate it. I wish I could do more and say more but I love it. Thank you.”
Coke Consolidated Teammates also reflected on what this means to them.
“Supporting veterans, military members and their families is a core pillar of how we give back at Coca-Cola Consolidated,” said Jennifer Rothacker, Director of Community Programming and Projects. “Teaming with our partners at NASCAR and the Charlotte Motor Speedway to help repair Deborah’s home was a great opportunity not only to perform a community service, but also to honor and thank Deborah for her service to our country.”
Leaders from Coke Consolidated, The Coca-Cola Company and NASCAR also participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider in Arlington National Cemetery on May 1 to honor the upcoming holiday. The 639-acre cemetery is the final resting place for more than 400,000 servicemen and women and their families.
“As a veteran, the support our company provides for former and active military members and their families is overwhelming and humbling,” said Jason Avery, Director of Health and Wellness for Coca-Cola Consolidated and founder of the company’s Veterans Resource Group. “The home repair project for Deborah that we participated in is about giving back to her for all she’s given for us.”
Coke Consolidated’s Veterans Resource Group unites Teammates who have served in the U.S Armed Forces by providing them with networking, mentoring and continued education opportunities. Coke Consolidated is also partnering with Hiring Our Heroes to meet and interact with transitioning service members, veterans and military-spouse job seekers for internships and potential employment.
In addition to serving veterans and the community, we’re committed to helping create a more sustainable future. As part of our Refresh. Recycle. Renew. program, we provided over 600 empty syrup barrels to the Charlotte Motor Speedway that are used as recycling containers and waste bins throughout the property. The thousands of discarded bottles and cans collected at the event venue are then remade into new bottles and cans.
Coca-Cola Consolidated is the official beverage sponsor for this weekend’s big race and the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The Coca-Cola 600 will air on FOX on May 26 at 6 p.m. E.T.
