A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus, the loading unit comprising: a tool assembly having a cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge having a plurality of surgical fasteners therein, and an anvil assembly, at least one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly being movable in relation to the other of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly, wherein the anvil assembly includes an anvil plate and, wherein each of the anvil plate and the staple cartridge define an elongate longitudinal slot (70b, 82c), at least one of the anvil plate and the staple cartridge defining a pair of distal recesses (70e, 82f) formed near a distal end thereof and disposed on opposed sides of the longitudinal slot; a surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of at least one of the anvil plate and the staple cartridge, wherein each surgical buttress is secured to the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly by at least one suture, wherein a first end of the suture is inserted in a first of the pair of distal recesses and a second end of the suture extends over the surgical buttress to a second of the pair of distal recesses securing the surgical buttress to the tissue contacting surface, wherein at least one of pair of distal recesses (70e, 82f) includes a constricting, open-ended, side slot configured to grip an end of the suture; a release assembly (74, 94) associated with the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly; and a drive assembly slidably translatable through the tool assembly from a proximal position to a distal position, the drive assembly actuating the release assembly to thereby release the suture to free the surgical buttress from the at least one of the anvil assembly and cartridge assembly, characterized in that the release assembly includes a suture bar (76, 95) pivotally connected to the cartridge or anvil assembly, the suture bar including a body portion and a finger (76c, 95b) extending from an edge thereof, the finger being in operative registration with one of the distal pair of recesses, wherein a distal advancement of the drive assembly moves the finger away from the distal recess to release an end of the suture. a tool assembly having a cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge having a plurality of surgical fasteners therein, and an anvil assembly, at least one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly being movable in relation to the other of the cartridge assembly and anvil assembly, wherein the anvil assembly includes an anvil plate and, wherein each of the anvil plate and the staple cartridge define an elongate longitudinal slot (70b, 82c), at least one of the anvil plate and the staple cartridge defining a pair of distal recesses (70e, 82f) formed near a distal end thereof and disposed on opposed sides of the longitudinal slot; a surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of at least one of the anvil plate and the staple cartridge, wherein each surgical buttress is secured to the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly by at least one suture, wherein a first end of the suture is inserted in a first of the pair of distal recesses and a second end of the suture extends over the surgical buttress to a second of the pair of distal recesses securing the surgical buttress to the tissue contacting surface, wherein at least one of pair of distal recesses (70e, 82f) includes a constricting, open-ended, side slot configured to grip an end of the suture; a release assembly (74, 94) associated with the at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly; and a drive assembly slidably translatable through the tool assembly from a proximal position to a distal position, the drive assembly actuating the release assembly to thereby release the suture to free the surgical buttress from the at least one of the anvil assembly and cartridge assembly, characterized in that the release assembly includes a suture bar (76, 95) pivotally connected to the cartridge or anvil assembly, the suture bar including a body portion and a finger (76c, 95b) extending from an edge thereof, the finger being in operative registration with one of the distal pair of recesses, wherein a distal advancement of the drive assembly moves the finger away from the distal recess to release an end of the suture.