Veteran’s Day is this coming Wednesday, Nov. 11th, and Brown Bear Car Wash will be honoring vets and current service military (as well as spouses) with free car washes all day.

The nearest location is the one in Des Moines, located at 22706 Marine View Drive; others are in Federal Way, Kent, Auburn and Renton (see list below).

As a way of saying “thanks” to our military, Brown Bear will be offering free “Bear Essential” car washes to all current or former members of the military, including spouses.

“Our organization is proud to honor veterans and service personnel,” said Brown Bear President and founder Vic Odermat, himself a Marine Corps veteran. “While the washes are free, we know that freedom is not. This is a way for us to show our support and gives us a unique opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to people who sacrifice so incredibly for our freedom.”

Odermat said the offer will operate on an honor system and no verification or documentation is required. Drivers should identify themselves as a current or former member of the military to the wash attendant.

Odermat started Brown Bear in Seattle in 1957 with one location. They now own and operates car washes throughout the Puget Sound area and Spokane.

Here’s a list of participating locations nearby:

• 22706 Marine View Dr., Des Moines
• 34017 Hoyt Rd. SW, Federal Way
• 814 Auburn Way S, Auburn
• 1202 W Meeker St., Kent
• 800 S Grady Way, Renton
• 621 Rainier Ave. S, Renton
• 77 Rainier Ave. S, Renton

Brown Bear Car Wash in Des Moines is offering FREE “Bear Essentials” car washes this Friday, Sept. 25th from 8am to 7pm at their recently-remodeled facility at 22706 Marine View Drive South.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Free Bear Essentials Carwash

WHEN: Friday from 8am-7pm

WHERE: Brown Bear Carwash, located in Des Moines at 22706 Marine View Drive South 206-878-8611)

NOTE: This offer is valid for the Des Moines Location ONLY.

GOOD NEWS: Brown Bear Car Wash is celebrating its 52nd anniversary with FREE car washes this Thursday (Aug. 27th).

BAD NEWS: You’re going to have to drive to either Renton, Kent, Auburn or Federal Way to get one.

Note that not every Brown Bear location is feeling generous – here are the only ones participating in South King County:

• 800 S Grady Way, Renton
• 1202 W Meeker St., Kent
• 621 Rainier Ave. S, Renton
• 77 Rainier Ave. S, Renton
• 814 Auburn Way S, Auburn
• 34017 Hoyt Rd. SW, Federal Way

For other locations, see www.brownbear.com.

Here’s some promo copy from their press release:

Over the last four years, the Seattle-based company has washed a total of 53,623 cars for free on their annual free car wash day held each August.

As a way to say “thank you” to area residents for over 52 years of patronage, Brown Bear will be offering free “Bear Essential” car washes to the public Thursday, August 27, from 8am to 8pm at all of the company’s automated “tunnel wash” locations in the Puget Sound area:

“We are extremely grateful to the people of Puget Sound for their decades of patronage. Our annual free car wash day is one way we can show our appreciation,” said Brown Bear founder and owner Vic Odermat. “Weather cooperating, we anticipate this year’s event to be our best ever. As in years past, our employees and car washes will be ready to efficiently meet the demand.”

Odermat started Brown Bear started in Seattle in 1957 with one location at 15th Ave West in Seattle. Brown Bear now owns and operates car washes throughout the Puget Sound area and Spokane. The family-owned company, through its parent company, Car Wash Enterprises, Inc. owns and operates a total of 40 car wash facilities in Washington State as well as a large network of gas stations and convenience stores. It is one of the largest privately held car wash chains in the U.S. and is widely recognized within the industry as being a leader in the environmental movement.