Veteran’s Day is just around the corner, and it is a popular holiday to say thanks to our country’s military members. Many restaurants, stores, and other businesses offer free items and discounts to military members, retirees, and other veterans. Most places require proof of service such as a military or retiree ID card, DD Form 214, VFW card, or other proof of service, so be prepared if you are asked for proof of service.
In the spirit of the season we thought we would share a few of this year’s promotions with our readers.
Update: Home Depot and Lowes 10% Military Discount Available Everyday.
Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday
Golden Corral’s 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner is scheduled for Monday, November 16, 2009, from 5 to 9 pm in all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide (note that it is NOT on the actual Veterans Day). The free dinner meal is open to anyone who served in the US Military and is open to all veterans, retirees, active duty military members, and members of the National Guard or Reserves.
- Free “Thank You” Dinner
- Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Applebee’s Free Meal on Veterans Day
Applebee’s is supporting military veterans again this year by offering military members and veterans a free meal on Veterans Day. Simply show proof of military service, including showing up in uniform, military ID, military service organization ID (VFW card, etc), a picture of you in uniform, or other proof, and select a free meal from a special menu. For more information, visit the AppleBee’s Veterans Day page.
Other Veteran’s Day Discounts and free meals:
Last year’s free meals on Veteran’s Day included Golden Corral, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, and Applebees. Many other companies, stores, and restaurants offer Veteran’s Day discounts to Active Duty military members, retirees, and/or veterans. Be sure to ask if you are in doubt! Other offers:
- Lowe’s and Home Depot military discounts. The big box home improvement stores often give military members and veterans a 10% discount on military holidays such as Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, and around the 4th of July. Be sure to ask and bring your ID!
- Outback Steakhouse Veteran’s Day Deal.
- Golden Corral’s Free “Thank You” Dinner for Military.
- McCormick & Schmick’s – Veterans Eat Free.
- Veterans Eat Free at Applebee’s.
- Free Krispy Kreme for Veterans.
- Free Admission to National Parks on Veteran’s Day.
- Check for local restaurants and businesses for more discounts!
- 2009 Veterans Day Deals and Discounts courtesy of Cash Money Life, and More Veteran’s Day Discounts courtesy of Jarhead Online.
Home Depot Coupon Updates
Be sure to check out more military discounts on Military Finance Network, and thanks for serving!
Related posts:
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
SportClips locations in Owasso and Tulsa, OK (on 71st, near Garnett) are offering free haircuts for those with Veterans and Military ID from 9 a.m.- 1 pm. Veterans Day November 11, 2009. This might just be these locations so call and check to see if yours is doing this!
They also have some other things going on for Veterans. Sportclips offers discounts every day to Veterans and military personnel (show your VFW membership card, military ID or Veterans ID.)
Sportclips also offer a
* free upgrade for first time clients (relaxing shoulder and neck massage, hot steamed towel, massaging shampoo and conditioner along with the haircut, at no additional charge.) (OK, you probably don’t get that with the free cut….but it sounds like a good deal if you miss out on the free Veterans Day haircut.)
* free birthday haircut (sign up when you go in)
Sportclips is also donating money from each paid for haircut on Veterans Day to the Operation Uplink so families can visit with troops over the holidays.
Masala Wok restaurants in Northern VA are offering military members and veterans a free entree on Veterans Day(Nov 11th). Simply show proof of military service and select any free entree from the regular full menu
MasalaWok® is a Casual Indian Diner with a Chinese twist, featuring Indian and Indo-Chinese dishes. The Indo-Chinese cuisine is a blend of Chinese wok (Kadai) cooking and traditional Indian spices, resulting in more flavorful and tastier dishes.
MasalaWok®’s menu features best of traditional Indian and most flavorful & widely popular Indo-Chinese dishes. Traditional Indian items include meats and breads cooked in tandoor (clay oven), curries prepared with fresh Masala (fresh-ground spices), and Indo-Chinese items prepared with fresh vegetables, meats and sauces stir fried in a Wok.
MasalaWok® is a better place to eat because of the fresh, made-to-order food prepared with fresh-grounded spices, fresh vegetables and meats, Served in an upscale casual atmosphere.
Uno’s Chicago Grill is offering a free entree on Veterans Day. http://www.unos.com/vet1.html
In California – Chipolte offers free food for MILITARY AND FAMILY MEMBERS on veterans day!
Knotts Berry Farm good thru the 26th. You & a guest free & up to six more for $15.
Hy-Vee grocery stores in the Midwest (Iowa, Illinois, etc.) give a free breakfast buffet from 7 – 11 am.
Not sure what kind of proof, if any, is required.
I heard on television Outback Steak House is offering a free blooming onion and drink for Veterans on Memorial Day.
Pimsleur Language Programs is offering 25% off for Veterans today through November 25th.
http://promo.simonandschuster.com/PimsleurVeteransDayOffer/
Went to Applebees today with my wife and her aunt & uncle. We were treated like royalty along with us getting free entrees. The restaurant was packed with veterans and their families. It was VERY nice to see so many WWII vets there as well as Viet Nam vets. THANK YOU Applebees! You have put your money where your mouth is by honoring us!
We went to the Ruby Tuesday’s in Leesburg, Va for lunch on Veteran’s day after reading on your web site about an offer for a free meal for veterans. Apparently your web site was incorrect. We were informed by our waiter and the manager that Ruby Tuesday’s has not in the past nor does not currently offer free meals to Veteran’s. In fact they were fairly rude about it. In the future we will take our business to places that honor our veterans like Applebees and Outback steakhouse.
Mike, I am sorry about your experience with Ruby Tuesday’s. Regardless of whether or not they have a Veterans Day promotion, they should never be rude to customers.
As for a Veterans Day promotion at Ruby Tuesday, I hadn’t heard of it before and I didn’t post anything about it on this site (I did a site search including comments in case a reader left a comment about it).
Sorry about your experience, and hopefully you will have a better experience if you go to the Golden Corral dinner, which is this coming Monday, November 16th, 2009.
at Leesburg, Florida I was also treated rudely when i asked Ruby Tuesdays about veterans day dinner now i hope Ruby Tues management will realize that the vets can make or break a business if they wish and should realize how much pulling power the vets have in this country. so we see next year if they will spend their net profits on the vets. as the profits will increase during the year by the vets using their business. as of now many vets boycott business that don’t support the vets such as Ruby Tuesdays
Lowes offers a 10% “Military Discount” EVERY day, but you have to ask for it….They don’t volunteer this info.
Salute to Veterans Week (previously known as Salute to Hospitalized Veterans, is coming up Feb 8-Feb 13th, 2010.)
Does anyone know of any specials being offered for that?
We see Senior Discounts advertised in the phone book, on flyers and others advertising, but rarely Veterans Discounts.
Businesses that realize that Veterans will support those who support them and put a Veterans discount in their advertising might be surprised at the response.
Tom, I agree – the military community has a strong showing and can do a lot to support local and national businesses. Many stores, restaurants, and other places of business offer military and/or veterans discounts when asked, but most don’t advertise them.