Veterans suit up with Brooks Brothers, Dignity U Wear

Veterans transitioning to civilian life given special gift

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Military veterans suited up Wednesday night but not in their combat fatigues. Brooks Brothers took them shopping with the help of Dignity U Wear, through Brooks Brothers jobs program, Suits for Soldiers, and dressed them down in tailored suits at their St. Johns Town Center store.

Brooks Brothers also held a reception to honor those veterans, as well as honoring Dignity U Wear for 15 years of service to military personnel.

Recommended Videos



A lot of veterans come back from their service looking to start a new career, many finding themselves starting over from scratch, and with that comes the need for job interviews and a wardrobe to match their capabilities.

Brooks Brothers is trying to make that transition easier on military veterans, just like they did for Rob Surgeoner, a retired S-3 Viking Naval Flight Officer who made the military his life, who said that because of the program, he now works with the Wounded Warrior Project.

"Twenty-five years, 8-months, and 13-days. I never thought I'd be walking around in a Brooks Brothers' suit," Surgeoner said.

Brooks Brothers Suits for Soldiers program is donating $1 million worth of brand new suits for vets nationally to help with their new civilian status and the job interviews that come with that.

During the VIP reception for the veterans, Dignity U Wear also provided shoes, shirts and ties to go along with the more than 2,500 suits they were helping to distribute to Jacksonville's vets.

"We were happy to donate those suits that would help them feel really good about themselves and succeed in their job interviewing," Emilie Antonetti, VP of social purpose with Brooks Brothers, said.

So far more than 800 veterans have benefited from the program, including vets with the Wounded Warrior Project and Operation New Uniform.

"Every one of our veterans have received suits as a result of the gift and the relationship with Brooks Brothers," executive director of Operation New Uniform, said.

Brooks Brothers will also be sending 100 veterans and their families to a Jacksonville Jaguars home game through the sponsorship of the Jaguars "Give-N-Go 100" program.
Â