Veterans working at Disney focus on the corporate’s deep ties to America’s armed forces and its continued efforts to assist veterans and their households by hiring packages, reductions and neighborhood recognition.
Disney is celebrating its decades-long ties to American service members — each energetic and retired — with particular Veterans Day occasions, clothes and extra. Two veterans who now work for the Home of Mouse instructed FOX Enterprise that they’re proud to share within the legacy of an organization that honors their service and sacrifice.
“It was very interesting to me after I was searching for my subsequent chapter after retiring from navy service,” Cappy Surette, a retired U.S. Navy captain, instructed FOX Enterprise. “And to study that Disney has roots that go all the best way again to our founders, Walt and Roy Disney, who served their nation throughout World Warfare I, it was actually fairly wonderful.”
Surrette served within the Navy for 22 years earlier than becoming a member of Disney in 2012, as the corporate launched its “Heroes Work Right here” initiative to rent, practice and assist veterans. Now senior supervisor of communications for Disney Experiences, he additionally helped spearhead the corporate’s first military-inspired merchandise line, the “Honor Assortment” — affectionately often called “Mickey-flage” for its hidden Mickey designs.
DISNEY CONTINUES TRADITION OF HONORING AMERICAN MILITARY WITH PATRIOTIC CELEBRATIONS
Disney has made its military-inspired “Honor Assortment” an annual custom. (The Walt Disney Firm / FOXBusiness)
“To see company and forged members strolling round proudly carrying that and blazoned with the phrase ‘honor’ and feeling so pleased with their service and appreciating Disney for recognizing it and thanking them for his or her service is absolutely simply fairly magical,” Surrette stated.
Different Disney-owned firms, like ESPN, are collaborating in celebrating veterans. ESPN Vice President of Advertising Brian Iglesias spoke with FOX Enterprise about his expertise as a veteran working on the firm and the way his time within the Marine Corps typically turns out to be useful.
“I believe crucial factor is whenever you’re within the service, you’re employed with individuals from all completely different walks of life. Males, ladies, they may very well be [from] wealthy backgrounds or poor backgrounds and a few of them are from different nations. And you actually perceive easy methods to work as a workforce, easy methods to be a pacesetter, easy methods to be a follower. How one can handle individuals which might be completely different than you. And that is [a] actual particular talent which you can’t get anyplace else,” Iglesias stated.
Iglesias served within the U.S. Marine Corps for 26 years, together with 14 years of energetic responsibility and 12 years of reserve responsibility. He instructed FOX Enterprise that the flexibility to work with individuals representing a large spectrum of experiences is the “particular sauce that the veterans convey to the corporate.”
Members of the U.S. Military’s third Infantry Division Band marched down Foremost Avenue U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom park throughout Disney’s celebration of the U.S. Military’s 250th birthday on June 14, 2025. (Disney)
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Along with the merchandise and occasions marking Veterans Day, Disney additionally launched a video which featured Iglesias alongside a number of different veterans.
“You gave your dedication to the nation, so that you should have a possibility to work for a corporation that can completely give it again to you,” one veteran stated within the video.
On Veterans Day, Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California will probably be holding particular flag retreat ceremonies in honor of those that served. Whereas these ceremonies are accomplished each day, those held on Veterans Day are used to acknowledge veterans who are actually Disney workers.
Disney World’s iconic Spaceship Earth in EPCOT lit up with the American flag. (Walt Disney World Resort)
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“Strolling down Foremost Avenue USA, you already know, in Magic Kingdom, in Walt Disney World or Disneyland in California, you’re feeling the sense of America. And having worn the uniform of our nation and defending it, it is actually simply additional particular to me to have the ability to be a wealthy a part of this, carrying on the custom of so many veterans that helped form the Walt Disney Firm over our 100-plus 12 months historical past,” Surrette stated.
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Disney’s web site notes that the corporate’s navy connections run deep: Walt Disney drove an ambulance for the Crimson Cross throughout World Warfare I, whereas his brother Roy served as a petty officer within the Navy. Since launching “Heroes Work Right here,” along with hiring veterans, Disney has donated greater than $20 million to organizations helping veterans and their households.
As Disney marks Veterans Day, the corporate says its longtime bond with service members stays central to its id — and the way forward for its workforce.