For immediate release: November 2, 2018

Metro honors military service members with limited-edition Heroes SmarTrip card

Veterans Day Heroes CardMetro and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) are honoring America's military with the release of a limited-edition Heroes SmarTrip® card to recognize Veterans and Military Family Month.

The card, available today, features all five branches of the military and will encourage the public to learn more about the military and those who serve by using the hashtag #KnowYourMil to join the conversation.

"Metro is proud to honor our military service members and veterans who serve and protect our country," said Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld. "Here in the nation's capital, our military and their families are also our customers, and it is an honor for Metro to serve our nation's heroes."

"We appreciate WMATA highlighting our military men and women on this special #KnowYourMil SmarTrip card. Since November is Veterans and Military Family month, it's the perfect time to encourage metro riders to engage in a conversation to get to know their military," said Ms. Dana White, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. "This year is particularly special as we remember the centennial of the armistice that ended World War I, the war that changed the world, as well as the 75th commemoration of World War II and the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. It's important that we continue to honor and thank the generations of those who served before and those who are currently serving."

The limited-edition cards feature a DOD design and may be purchased online or at Metro's Sales Office located at Metro Center (12th & F streets entrance) starting today. In addition, cards will be available in specially marked fare vending machines at all 91 Metrorail stations by Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11.

Metro values the skills and experience of our military service members and is proud to actively recruit and hire veterans. Since 2012 Metro has increased the size of its military employee base by nearly 50 percent as part of a fully-integrated military recruitment strategy to hire and retain top-quality military veteran candidates. Military veterans serve in a variety of positions including transit police officers, mechanics, bus and rail operators, information technology professionals and executive management.