Everyone has their own memories of 9/11. Ask almost anyone where they were when they found out the Twin Towers had been hit, and they will likely remember. Even those who were young at the time can remember what class they were in or how their teacher told them about it.
It was one of the worst days in history, and it’s something that Americans refuse to forget.
There have been many tributes made to the victims of the deadly terrorist attack. One of the most notable is the Budweiser tribute.
The video originally aired only once as a Super Bowl ad in 2002. It was aired again for the 10th anniversary. When a video clip showing the ad appeared on social media, many people didn’t remember seeing it and felt it wasn’t authentic.
At one point, Snopes even got involved to make sure there was a real ad. Budweiser wrote a response to the inquiry.
The company said:
“We truly appreciate your interest in one of our Super Bowl 2002 commercials, ‘Clydesdale Respect.’ As you have heard, this commercial aired only once. However, we continue to be overwhelmed by the positive response. Anheuser-Busch is proud to be an American beer company and we wanted to express ourselves in respectfully honoring those affected by the events of September 11th We are pleased that the Budweiser Clydesdales were able to deliver our sentiments in a way that has resonated with many Americans. At this time, we have no plans to air this commercial again. Although it was available for a period of one year on our Web site, we have since chosen to update the site with fresher ads.”
The video clip eventually made it to YouTube, where it has been viewed many times.
There seem to be mixed reviews about the commercial. Most people have reacted positively to the tribute ad. The comments on YouTube include one from Judith Crook that says:
“Every time someone shares the Budweiser tenth anniversary, Sept 11 commercial, it brings me to tears — definitely the classiest, most respectful tribute I have seen. Thank You”
Another viewer, You’re Right, commented;
“The Budweiser Clydesdales have always been so impressive to me. I got to go to their farm once. It was awesome. Each horses leather fitting costs 25,000 dollars. They are truly majestic animals. Their barn is nicer than my house. They are treated like royalty.”
As with many things, there were some people who failed to see the video as a tribute.
Some shamed Budweiser for using the 9/11 tragedy for a commercial. Budweiser insists that this is not the case and it did not create the video to make money for the company. Instead, it was created to help raise money for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
The company released a statement about the original ad and the one it aired on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
It said:
“We feel our 9/11 Clydesdales tribute … is very special. We were proud to re-air the spot on Sunday, the 10th anniversary, as a way to help raise awareness of the fundraising campaign for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The subtle changes in the ad were intended to reflect the passing of time, and the most important point, that we should never forget those lost and affected by 9/11.”
Will we see another tribute from Budweiser? It’s hard to tell.
The company seems to be happy with the one it created. Although the company doesn’t air it often, it always seems to air it when the time is right. No matter what you think about the beer or the company, there is no denying that this tribute video is deeply touching.
Somehow, these horses were able to speak for the world without being able to speak at all. It’s a beautiful tribute that reminds everyone that we shouldn’t forget about this horrible tragedy.
Watch the full commercial below.
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