Planning for Grace for Vets program is underway

EPHRATA, PA — The planning for Grace for Vets, a program that honors all veterans and military personnel by giving them a free carwash on Veterans Day, is underway here.

This year, the Nov. 11 holiday falls on a Friday, and the people behind the nationwide program said they’re gearing up for another successful turnout.

Last year, 101,537 veteran and military personnel vehicles were washed in total via the 1,253 participating carwash locations. All 50 states, and even Canada, were represented.

According to the Grace for Vets headquarters, they are looking for more support from Midwest and West Coast carwashes.

Grace for Vets was created by Mike Mountz, CEO of Cloister Carwash & Lube and a U.S. service veteran. During the Vietnam War, Mountz was injured and ended up at a military hospital in Valley Forge, PA. Not injured to the extent of the men and women around him, he was personally and profoundly moved by what he saw. He vowed to one day help veterans in some way. He started Grace for Vets in 2004, and since then, hundreds of carwashes have participated, and even more veterans have benefited from the program.

For more information, visit the website at www.graceforvets.org, write to info@graceforvets.org or call 717-733-7090.