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Bring Home a Jack Daniel’s Barrel to Support Military Families This Holiday Season Through “Operation Ride Home”

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Bring Home a Jack Daniel’s Barrel to Support Military Families This Holiday Season Through “Operation Ride Home”

Barrels from Ten “Barrel Trees” Nationwide Available to Purchase Now to Fund Holiday Travel for Junior-Enlisted Service Members and Their Families 

Lynchburg, TN (December 2, 2024) – The season just got a little brighter for the nation’s military community with the launch of Jack Daniel’s annual “Barrel Tree” sale, which will help junior-enlisted service members and their families travel home for the holidays.

Barrels from each of the 10 Jack Daniel’s “Barrel Trees” currently on display across the country are now available for $200 each at operationridehome.com. Proceeds benefit the “Operation Ride Home” program in partnership with the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA), which has helped nearly 13,000 individuals travel home and raised close to $3 million since 2011. Service members from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard have received travel assistance to all 50 states.

“Our whiskey barrels have always had a special role to play, and during the holiday season, they take on an even greater purpose—bringing military families together,” said Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. “We hope our friends will purchase a barrel to help service members create cherished memories with their loved ones. It’s an opportunity to honor their sacrifices and make this season even more meaningful for the families.”

Jack Daniel’s first built its iconic 26-foot-tall “Barrel Tree” in 2011 in Lynchburg, TN, using 140 American white oak whiskey barrels to bring festive cheer to the community. This year, that tree and nine others are lighting up cities across the country, including: Nashville, TN; Tampa, FL; San Antonio, TX; Washington, D.C.; New Brunswick, NJ; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; and Venice, CA. Each charred oak barrel used to build the trees once matured Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey to perfection.

To purchase a barrel and support military families this holiday season, visit operationridehome.com.

About Jack Daniel’s:

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel’s Bonded, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.

Please Drink Responsibly.

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, 40% alc. by vol. Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee. JACK DANIEL’S is a registered trademark. ©2024 Jack Daniel’s. All rights reserved.

About the Armed Services YMCA:

The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) is the oldest military support organization in the United States, founded in 1861. The ASYMCA’s mission enhances the lives of active-duty junior-enlisted military members and their families in spirit, mind and body through programs relevant to the unique challenges of military life. In 2023, the ASYMCA engaged more than 291,000 military families and delivered more than 1.2 million points of service through its 12 Branches and 24 Affiliate Partners, serving more than 96 military installations across the U.S. To learn more about how the ASYMCA is “Strengthening Our Military Family,” visit www.asymca.org.

Mission BBQ and Giving Back to the Military Community

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Mission BBQ and Giving Back to the Military Community

Mission BBQ and Giving Back to the Military Community

Have you heard of the restaurant, Mission BBQ? We just got one here in the Fort Campbell area last year and I was excited to try their yummy food. I have heard such good things about them over the years. As I walked in the first thing I noticed was their decor. On the wall was everything you can imagine honoring the military as well as others who serve their community.

Mission BBQ and Giving Back to the Military Community

I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and enjoyed my meal immensely.

Mission BBQ first opened on September 11, 2011, by two friends who were passionate about BBQ, being patriotic, and running a business with meaning and purpose.

This from their, “Our Story” section of their website says it all:

“We believe there is nothing more American than BBQ. And nobody more American than the brave men and women who have sworn to protect and serve Our Communities and Our Country. We do what we do for the love of our soldiers, firefighters, police officers, first responders—all our loved ones in service.”

Mission BBQ and Giving Back to the Military Community

 

When you go to a Mission BBQ, you can have a good meal, in a patriotic dining room. If you happen to be there at noon, you can be apart of the daily salute to our country as everyone stops to sing the National Anthem.

There are quite a few choices of what to eat when you go to Mission BBQ. You can enjoy brisket, pulled pork, turkey, pulled chicken, sausage, sides, and more. They even have a kid’s menu for the younger ones.

Mission BBQ and Giving Back to the Military Community

 

 

You can also get food delivered to parties of five or more and can find Mission BBQ in 13 states at the moment.

Mission BBQ is also known for giving back to their communities which is such a nice thing to hear these days. They have military appreciation nights where all the sales from the night are donated to a variety of organizations. These have been organizations such as the USO, the Navy Seal Foundation, and Wreaths Across America.

They truly give back to the military community!

Have you ever been to a Mission BBQ? You can search for one near you and plan to visit as soon as you can 🙂

 

What Adam Driver, Former US Marine, Does For the Military

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What Adam Driver, Former US Marine, Does For the Military

What Adam Driver, Former US Marine, Does For the Military

Have you seen The Last Jedi yet? If not, go, I loved it! And I have a house full of boys who do too. If you are a fan of the Star Wars movies, you might know a bit about the actors who play in those movies. One of the new villains in these recent movies is Kylo Ren, played by the actor Adam Driver.

Did you know that before he started acting, Adam Driver was in the Marine Corps? He joined after 9/11 and served for almost 3 years. He injured his sternum while mountain biking and was medically discharged. After that, he went back to school, ended up at Juilliard, and started acting in New York City both on and off Broadway.

His first movie was J. Edgar in 2011. In 2012, he began his role in the HBO show Girls, and in 2014, he was cast as Kylo Ren for the upcoming Star Wars movies.

What Adam Driver, Former US Marine, Does For the Military
By Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Even though his career in the military ended years ago, his support for the military did not. In 2008, he founded Arts in the Armed Forces (AITAF.) This organization’s goal is to bring high-quality theater programming for active duty service members, veterans, military support staff, and their families.

AITAF perform’s domestically and around the world and chooses plays that feature diverse themes as well as ages, ethnicities, and experiences. This creates a unique experience for the audience. After each of their performances, the actors will interact with the audience, answering a Q & A and having an informal time to talk to everyone.

The first performance of 2018 will be at Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina on January 5th and 6th. They will be doing a reading of Top Underdog.

In celebration of their 10th year, Arts in the Armed Forces announced the Bridge Award that will grant 10K to a playwright who has or is serving in the military. In addition to the money, they will also stage a professional reading of the play that was submitted. All entries must be received by March 1st, 2018. The winner should be announced around May 1st, 2018. Go to their website for more information.

As you can see, Adam Driver and Arts in the Armed Forces want to bring amazing theater to the military as well as support the talents of those who serve. This is such an important thing as the military is made up of people with all different strengths and talents. Arts in the Armed Forces is one way to help support that.