Anheuser-Busch teams with Intrepid Museum to establish Fallen Heroes scholarship fund

Sea Power, Jul 2003

The Anheuser-Busch Company has donated $1 million to create the Intrepid /Anheuser-Busch Fallen Heroes Fund, which will provide scholarships to spouses and children of U.S. military and coalition personnel killed during the war in Iraq.

The scholarship program will be administered by the Intrepid Museum Foundation, which also administers the Intrepid Family Support Fund (which provides financial assistance for the families of U.S. naval/military personnel lost in the line of duty) and the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum-a U.S. armed forces memorial, educational, and charitable institution-in New York City.

The foundation also supports New York City's annual "Fleet Week" celebration. The New York Council of the Navy League also plays a key role in the Fleet Week celebration. Numerous council members and other Navy Leaguers work with and provide support for both the museum and the foundation, which since its founding in 1982 by philanthropist Zachary Fisher has provided more than $15 million to the families of those lost in the line of duty. The foundation's sister organization, the Fisher House Foundation, provides comfort homes at major U.S. military and VA medical centers to house the families of hospitalized U.S. naval/military personnel and veterans.

The latest donation continues Anheuser -Busch's 150-year history of support for the U.S. armed forces. The company has worked closely with the St. Louis Council (Mo.) of the Navy League to support both the council's annual Navy Day Ball and a series of "Car-dinal Company" Days at Busch Stadium during which scores of young men and women have been officially recruited into the U.S. Navy.

The company also recently announced the establishment of Operation Salute-which provides free single-day admissions to Anheuser-Busch's Sea World, Busch Gardens, and Sesame Place parks to the men and women of the U.S. armed forces and their families as a way of thanking them "for their sacrifices in the war." Members of the U.S. and coalition armed services, active reservists, and National Guard personnel -and up to four direct dependents of any service member in any of those categories-are eligible to participate in Operation Salute, which concludes on 11 November, Veterans Day.

Patrick Stokes, Anheuser-Busch pres-ident and CEO, presented the $1 million donation to the foundation during Washington, D.C., ceremonies attended by, among other senior service leaders, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Richard B. Myers. "Rebuilding lives after losing their loved ones takes courage and support from others," Stokes said. "Giving to these families enables us to express our deep gratitude for their service."

"We are proud to join with Anheuser-Busch in supporting these families," said Arnold Fisher, president of the foundation. "This donation will give them educational opportunities to help pave the way for their future."

Myers' wife, Mary Jo, speaking on behalf of "our military men and women who ... died while serving the nation," expressed heartfelt thanks to the Anheuser -Busch Company "for this special gift" and to the Intrepid Museum Foundation "for its continuing support of our military families."