Six Flags Friends Pays Tribute to United States Soldiers

[Steve K]

New York, NY (PRNewsWire) - Six Flags Friends, the philanthropic arm of Six Flags, Inc. , today announced the official launch of its holiday program, "Salute To Our Troops ~ Letters to Our Friends." The program will showcase and honor United States troops serving overseas. Beginning November 23, guests who visit Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California, Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas and Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas during Holiday In The Park will have an opportunity to view photos of select servicemen and women in designated areas of the parks and correspond with them through personal messages.

Six Flags Friends has partnered with local military bases, Travis Air Force in Vallejo, Dyess AFB in Abilene, Fort Hood in Killeen, the Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth and Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio to reach out to the deployed soldiers and provide a way for them to make a holiday connection with their loved ones and supporters. The personal messages will be on display at the parks.

CMSgt. Stephen Bush used this opportunity to send a wave of inspiration and hope back to the United States. His message reads, "Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Your support means everything to us; it lifts our spirits, morale and our will to fight. Your patriotism gives us strength and courage." Others offered more lighthearted notes directed at their families. "Mom, Dad, What are you doing at Six Flags without me? Get home and mail me some cookies," joked Daniel K. Nicholas, EOD Team Member.

"The fundamental mission of Six Flags Friends is to create a movement among children and families throughout our parks and communities to stand up and make a difference in the world around them," said Michael Antinoro, Six Flags Executive Vice President of Marketing and Entertainment. "The Salute To Our Troops program is the first of many Six Flags Friends initiatives that will invite our guests to join us on this mission," said Antinoro.

Guests who do not visit Holiday In The Park this season are still encouraged to visit sixflags.com for more information on how they can participate in sending their personal thoughts to our servicemen and women through the "Salute To Our Troops" program. In addition, Six Flags Friends will reward the most creative letter or note with four 2008 Six Flags tickets to be used at any Six Flags theme park location. The winning entry will be featured on sixflags.com during the month of January.

For more information on Salute to Our Troops and other upcoming Six Flags Friends events, programs and partnerships, log on to http://www.sixflags.com/SaluteToOurTroops

About Six Flags, Inc:

Six Flags, Inc. is the world's largest regional theme park company, operating 21 parks across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Six Flags has more roller coasters than all other theme park companies combined. Since 1961, Six Flags has provided world-class thrilling entertainment for millions of families. Six Flags, Inc. is a publicly-traded corporation headquartered in New York City

If you have a chance to pay tribute to some our deployed service members this holiday season, please do. Not all members of the military have someone at home to 'write back to', and this remind them that someone supports them and what they're doing.

[Jake]

This is really cool, it's a shame they aren't doing this at Magic Mountain, as I'd like to check it out.

Good move by Six Flags.

Edit: True dat, Justin.

Rock on, Steve!

[sirloin]

One thing everybody here needs to remember is our legendary webmaster, Mr. Steve Kalkofen, is a serviceman himself with the Air Force. He's stationed in Germany at Spangdahlem Air Base, and is kicking butt and taking names every day.

Steve, your service is appreciated, and keep on rocking in the free world.

[rollercoasterfreek]

I knew someone who was in Iraq so it's a nice thing to do.

[Tom]

This is a great move for Six Flags, and I think it will make some people look at the chain in a better way because of this. It is good that they have it associating with the bases around those parks, which makes it feel more close to home for them I would think. I really do hope we don't see people outside of SFDK protesting the war and the troops which would just be completely disrespectful, but I can see it happening sadly.

Some of my closest friends are now serving or will be serving in the next few months and I know they will find this comforting that a major corporation is doing this. I consider anyone who has served or is serving, or is planning to, a great individual and should be honored for what they do. So Thank You Steve!

[Exceller]

I think it is a great idea that Six Flags is doing this. I really wish they could turn this into a year-round thing at all of the parks instead of some of the parks.

I really hope that no one goes in and protests the war. If they did that, that would not be respectful in the slightest bit to any of the people who are serving the country of their own will. Anyways, go Steve!

[Dan]

I think it is a great idea that Six Flags is doing this. I really wish they could turn this into a year-round thing at all of the parks instead of some of the parks. If it gets a good enough response, they will probably expand the program.


I really hope that no one goes in and protests the war. If they did that, that would not be respectful in the slightest bit to any of the people who are serving the country of their own will. Anyways, go Steve!
Well, you can't quit the military when a war starts you don't agree with. I'm sure there are people over there that don't believe in what they've been assigned to do.

[Steve K]

When you sign up for the military, you know you may go to war, whether you support it or not. Once your name is on the contract, you dedicate yourself to your country and to your commander in chief, whether you agree with him or not.

I personally do not believe in the war in Iraq, and I also don't support the president's views on Iran, however I fully support the Afghani campaign. But even though I don't agree with the above, I will still be ready to fight when they send me there, as should any member of the military. If you [members of the military] have problems with that, you don't deserve to be a part of the nations military. Everyone who joins is a volunteer, and that's how it will always be.

And always, just because you don't support the war, doesn't mean you can't support the troops.

[theRock-steel]

I don't know if you realize this, but the Busch Parks have been doing this kind of thing for a long time.
Praises to all; love the troops, hate war.

[p0tat0]

I love you Steve!