A surgical stapling apparatus is provided including a cartridge assembly defininga tissue contacting surface； an anvil assembly defining a tissue contactingsurface； and a surgical buttress releasably secured to at least one of the tissuecontacting surface of the cartridge assembly and the tissue contacting surfaceof the anvil assembly by at least one anchor. A loading unit is provided includinga surgical buttress releasably secured to an anvil assembly and/or a staple cartridgesecured thereto by at least one anchor, and a drive assembly including a knifeblade, wherein movement of the drive assembly from a proximal position to a distalposition results in the knife blade cutting the at least one anchor and freeingeach surgical buttress from the anvil assembly and/or cartridge assembly.
