Military Appreciation Monday a huge success.

Golden Corral Restaurants and the DAV partnered for their best ever Military Appreciation Monday Nov. 15, 2004. More than $363,000 was donated to the DAV by generous Golden Corral patrons during the annual event.

The 2004 donations represent nearly $100,000 more than was donated during the 2003 military appreciation event. Money donated to the DAV will be used to build better lives for America's disabled veterans and their families. Donations are delivered to the DAV Department in which it is donated and used to provide services to veterans and their families in local communities.

All of the nearly 500 Golden Corral Buffet and Grill Restaurants nationwide participated in Military Appreciation Monday, which kicked off with one restaurant owned by Golden Corral Franchisee Hu Odom in Virginia Beach, Va., in 1999. Approximately 250,000 meals and drinks were served during Military Appreciation Monday, and that includes 250,000 desserts.

The Golden Corral in Baltimore, Md., owned by Hu Odom, led all restaurants in contributions to the DAV with a whopping $20,000 and set the bar more than $7,000 higher than Odom's Norfolk, Va., Golden Corral which led the nation in 2003. Virginia Golden Corrals led in donations with $76,000 collected; neighboring North Carolina Golden Corrals ran a close second collecting more than $53,000 to benefit veterans and their families.

Partnering with Golden Corral is tremendously successful for the DAV. Restaurants provide DAV Chapter's space to distribute information about the DAV to the public, while enjoying a film-filled evening greeting and interacting with veterans and active duty military men and women in their area. DAV also provides contribution canisters, which restaurant managers place strategically in restaurants for donations to support service programs in DAV Departments.

Chapter members maintaining the information stations also have an opportunity to recruit new DAV and Auxiliary members, as well as encourage inactive members or members who may have moved into the area to become involved in local Chapters.

For the Golden Corral Corporation, its franchise owners, managers, and employees, it is a chance to show their appreciation to veterans and service members for their defense of freedom and service to the United States of America.

"The DAV is honored to partner with Golden Corral restaurants nationwide for Military Appreciation Monday." National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson said. "Partnering with corporate leaders, franchise owners, managers, and the many caring Golden Corral employees to make Military Appreciation Monday possible is another way we are working together to build better lives for America's disabled veterans and their families."

"Veterans and military members know a winner when they see one, and Golden Corral is certainly a winner in our book." National Commander James E. Sursely said. "Golden Corral stepped up to the plate to show their appreciation to veterans and active duty men and woman more than six years ago, and they are going stronger today than ever before. DAV is proud to be a part of Military Appreciation Monday, and we look forward to our partnership for many years to come."