News Releases

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STOREÒ SUPPORTS
CROSS-COUNTRY "SOLDIER RIDE" TOUR

Permanently disabled veterans riding across America to
raise awareness for Wounded Warrior Project

LEBANON, Tenn. (May 25, 2006) – Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. ("Cracker Barrel") will welcome veterans participating in the "Soldier Ride" when the caravan comes through Lebanon, Tennessee on June 2^nd, 2006. As a national sponsor of Soldier Ride and the Wounded Warrior Project, Cracker Barrel encourages the community to come out and meet the cyclists when the caravan stops at the Lebanon Cracker Barrel.

Soldier Ride is a nonprofit organization devoted to raising public awareness and support for the needs of severely injured servicemen and women injured in current military conflicts around the world. Soldier Ride has provided thousands of wounded veterans with comfort items, counseling and rehabilitation to assist them in making the transition from a hospital bed to an independent life.

"Our nation’s veterans deserve honor, respect and our appreciation," said Cy Taylor, president and chief operating officer at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. "The Wounded Warrior Project provides comfort packs to wounded soldiers and helps families with expenses as they visit injured soldiers at military hospitals in the US and overseas. Many of our guests and employees are veterans and we’re honored to support this important cause."

With the stop in Lebanon, Soldier Ride is nearing the halfway point of its eight-week cyclist ride across America. Cracker Barrel is supporting the cause by providing meals to the Soldier Ride veterans at any Cracker Barrel they visit during the eight-week journey. More information about Soldier Ride and the Wounded Warrior Project can be found at www.soldierride.com.

"One of the goals of the Wounded Warrior Project is to increase public awareness of the challenges our returning wounded service men and women face," said John Melia, executive director for the Wounded Warrior Project. "By committing their time and resources, Cracker Barrel has profoundly assisted us in that mission and displayed their commitment to America's veterans."

Army Staff Sergeant Yegor Bondarenko is one veteran who plans to be a coast-to-coast rider. One year after losing part of his right arm in Iraq, he’s committed to completing the 4,300 cross-country journey.

"We've met some incredible people over the past few weeks and received so much encouragement," says Bondarenko. "We were at a Cracker Barrel in Virginia when a retired colonel thanked us for serving our country. These conversations are very encouraging and give us the opportunity to remind people that the Wounded Warrior Project and Soldier Ride will be helping veterans for years to come."

On June 2^nd, the Soldier Ride veterans will enjoy lunch and visit with the community at the Lebanon Cracker Barrel. Beginning at 12:30pm, the veterans will prepare themselves and their customized bicycles for a ride to Cracker Barrel’s corporate office where hundreds of Cracker Barrel employees will welcome them with an afternoon reception.