Anheuser-Busch called
upon its world-renowned Budweiser Clydesdales to deliver a special package to
military veterans Jayson and Justin Ryter Wednesday in Ormond Beach, Fla. Their
delivery man, NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick – who’s no stranger to horsepower –
was fit for the job, as the Marines received tickets to Sunday’s Daytona 500.
The Budweiser
Clydesdales have been an enduring symbol of Anheuser-Busch’s heritage,
tradition and commitment to quality since 1933, when August A. Busch Jr. and
Adolphus Busch III surprised their father, August A. Busch Sr., with the gift
of a six-horse Clydesdale hitch to commemorate the repeal of Prohibition. The
hitch now consists of eight majestic horses, the famous red, white and gold
beer wagon, and two drivers seated next to the hitch’s signature mascot
Dalmatian.
On Wednesday, however,
the hitch had two additional passengers – Harvick and his wife DeLana – who
presented the brothers with several cases of Budweiser in addition to the
Daytona 500 tickets.
“Anytime you get an
opportunity to show your appreciation for our men and women in the military
it’s great to be a part of,” said Harvick, winner of the 2007 Daytona 500.
“This is obviously just one of the many things that Budweiser does for our
military personnel. The Clydesdales add a whole new element to it. People love
to see the hitch and the Clydesdales. To be able to ride on the hitch and come
up the city streets and see all the people on the side of the roads is
exciting.”
Jayson and Justin,
22-year-old fraternal twins, recently returned home after four years of active
duty in the United States Marine Corps. Both siblings enlisted shortly after
graduating from Seabreeze High School in 2008. Jayson served in various
missions as a Military Transport Operator (MTO), including several months in
Afghanistan, while Justin was permanently stationed in Hawaii in Personnel
Administration .
The twins were
discharged from active duty within six months of each other– Jayson in August
of last year and Justin only a few weeks ago in January - and returned home to
Ormond Beach to pursue a college degree. They currently are enrolled at Daytona
State College.
“I’m blown away,” Justin
said. “I’m just speechless. This is probably the most exciting thing that’s
happened here in a while. I can’t wait to get to the track on Sunday and watch
Kevin race.”
“I’ve always seen (the
Clydesdales) on commercials and thought about how I would love to see them in
person someday,” Jayson said. “Here I am seeing them and I’m just surprised they’re
actually in front of my house.”
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