Commissaries honor the sacrifices of the fallen by delivering best benefit possible
FORT LEE, Va. – Commissaries worldwide are observing the sacrifices of fallen service members during Memorial Day while also continuing to support their military communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As we serve our military communities during this outbreak we must never forget the men and women in uniform who lost their lives in service to this nation,” said Rear Adm. (retired) Robert J. Bianchi, DOD special assistant for commissary operations. “We honor their memories by always delivering the best commissary benefit possible.
“The legacy of service that echoes from Memorial Day is a constant reminder to our employees that we exist to support our military communities in good times and bad,” he said.
It’s in times of crisis like the COVID-19 outbreak that the sacrifices of the fallen service members honored on Memorial Day resonate even more with our employees, said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Tomeka N. O’Neal, senior enlisted advisor to the agency director.
“More than 66 percent of our commissary workforce has a direct connection with the military – military spouses, other family members, reservists, military retirees and other veterans,” O’Neal said. “So for us, Memorial Day is personal; it’s a constant reminder to all of us that our patrons walk in the footsteps of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, and we owe our military communities our best in delivering this benefit to them.”
-DeCA-
About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Commissaries provide a military benefit, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to similar products at commercial retailers. The discounted prices include a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.