OVERLAND PARK, KS (November 9, 2009) – This November, CARSTAR Collision Centers will honor America’s active duty and military veterans with a special celebration for National Military Month. It will include local market festivities for Veterans Day on November 11, special offers for military members and unique programs to help select families of those serving the country.

CARSTAR, the nation’s largest chain of collision centers, is working with national and local military support groups at more than 70 locations around the country.

“As a veteran and long-time supporter of our military, I’m proud to introduce a program at our facilities to help the heroes who serve our country and their families,” said Dick Cross, chairman and CEO, who served for four years as an officer in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. His military service culminated in a post as a top secret, special intelligence officer on the staff of Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, then the Chief of Naval Operations.

Beginning November 1, military members and their families can visit participating CARSTAR locations to receive special offers including from 3M and Hertz. Participating local CARSTAR stores are offering additional benefits to military members. To receive the benefits, military members and their families just need to show their military ID cards or other military membership cards.

CARSTAR is hosting National Military Month as an America Supports You tribute to the men and women in uniform. The local CARSTAR stores will be holding special celebrations on Veterans Day and throughout the month, providing support for local parades, and even repairing cars for military members and their families.

• Car Craft CARSTAR Bridgeton was in the Florissant Parade on November 8th. They had the Scion and towtruck in the parade, and handed out candy and marketing pieces. The stores are offering special promotions to veterans, and distributing the pieces to VA Hospitals, VFWs, etc., as well as customers. Both locations are accepting donations for the Disabled American Veterans www.DAV.org. The store created flags for the customers to purchase, which they can write their name and they will hang on the wall.

• In Wichita, CARSTAR stores are giving each military person a gallon of windshield wiper fluid, ice scraper and a VIP card for future collision repair needs. Also, they will have the coupons for 3M and Enterprise available.

• The Wisconsin CARSTAR stores (CARSTAR, Janesville; Dependable CARSTAR, Verona; Pat’s CARSTAR, Plover; Utzig CARSTAR, Janesville & Evansville) are sending care packages to Wisconsin military personnel stationed overseas. These Wisconsin stores will also act as a drop-off point for community donations and care packages to be sent throughout the month. They also are working with schools in each community to include student letters and pictures in these CARSTAR care packages.

• A&B CARSTAR stores in Kansas City, MO, will be collecting donations at each location to be used to purchase PX cards for a chosen platoon who are currently serving overseas. Each store will have a card to be signed with personal messages from all who contribute. These cards will accompany the PX cards to the selected unit and should arrive before Christmas. It also will be distributing preferred military cards from each shop to local military branch offices.

“Our country’s military members and their families make some many contributions to protect our freedom and way of life,” said Cross. “It’s an honor to be able to give back to them and honor their service.”

In the past 20 years, CARSTAR has worked closely with military support groups and other philanthropic groups to help repair vehicles for families in need.

Since CARSTAR was founded, it has performed more than 2.5 million repairs. Today they deliver a repaired vehicle every :30 seconds. CARSTAR franchisees deliver an average customer satisfaction rating of 97 percent or better. To find a reliable, trusted CARSTAR Collision Center, visit www.CARSTAR.com.