Military Appreciation Month 2025 Complete Guide To Freebies And Discounts For Service Members And Veterans

May 2025 marks National Military Appreciation Month, a time designated by Congress in 1999 for Americans to demonstrate their appreciation for the sacrifices and successes made by service members past and present. Throughout the month, businesses across the country offer special discounts and freebies as a token of gratitude for military service. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the freebies, discounts, and special offers available during Military Appreciation Month 2025.

Key Dates During Military Appreciation Month

Military Appreciation Month encompasses several significant observances dedicated to honoring service members and their families:

• Military Spouse Appreciation Day: Observed on Friday, May 9, 2025, traditionally set for the Friday before Mother's Day. This day acknowledges the significant contributions, support, and sacrifices of spouses of the Armed Forces.

• Armed Forces Day: Celebrated on Saturday, May 17, 2025, as the third Saturday in May each year. This holiday provides an opportunity for citizens to come together and thank military members for their patriotic service, honoring everyone serving in the U.S. Military branches: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy.

• Memorial Day: A Federal holiday observed on Monday, May 26, 2025, on the last Monday in May. Memorial Day is specifically for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's Armed Forces.

Many businesses time their special offers to coincide with these important dates, particularly around Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day when numerous free admission events and special promotions are available.

Entertainment and Travel Freebies

Military personnel and veterans can access numerous entertainment and travel freebies during Military Appreciation Month:

National Parks and Outdoor Recreation

The America the Beautiful Passes Program offers military members, National Guard, Reserve personnel, and their families a free annual pass to National Parks across the country. Passes must be obtained at a federal recreation site by presenting a valid military or dependent ID. Gold star families and veterans are also eligible for a free lifetime pass through this program.

Sports and Entertainment Events

Birdies For the Brave, an initiative by PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Charities, and the PGA TOUR's TPC Network, offers free tickets for military members and their families at PGA events. The majority of PGA TOUR tournaments provide free admission for active duty and Reserve military members, military retirees, and their families, as well as discounted tickets for veterans. This organization also hosts Military Appreciation Day Celebrations to honor United States Armed Forces and their families.

Amusement Parks and Attractions

Several amusement parks offer special military appreciation promotions:

• Hersheypark provides military personnel and veterans with an exclusive $39.99 All-Ages Ticket offer for Military Appreciation Month. These discounted tickets can be purchased online after verification by May 26 and are valid through June 30, 2025.

• Kings Dominion offers active-duty military and veterans a free ticket from May 23 through May 26. Up to six discounted tickets may be purchased for friends and family, but these are only available online after verification.

• Kings Island similarly provides active-duty military and veterans with a free ticket from May 23 through May 26, with the same option to purchase up to six discounted tickets for friends and family online after verification.

• Michigan's Adventure also offers active-duty military and veterans a free ticket from May 23 through May 26, with the same purchasing options for friends and family.

• SeaWorld parks honor Military Appreciation Month with free one-day admission for U.S. military veterans and up to three guests. Veterans can register for this offer through May 11 and have until July 6 to visit the parks with their free tickets.

• Silverwood provides free admission to all military personnel and veterans with identification from May 24 through 26. Their immediate family members (spouse and children) receive a special discounted rate when purchasing tickets at the front gate.

Transportation

Active-duty military and veterans can ride the ferry for free during Fleet Week, which runs from May 21 through 27, 2025.

Food and Dining Discounts

Numerous restaurants and food establishments offer special discounts during Military Appreciation Month:

General Food Discounts

• Veterans and active-duty military receive a free sandwich the week of May 12, though dates may vary by service branch.

• Bob Evans generally offers a 10% discount for active, veterans, and retired military every day. Customers should check with their local restaurant about potential additional deals for Memorial Day 2025.

• Café Rio provides participating restaurants with a 25% discount nationwide to veterans from Tuesdays through Sundays with a military ID. Additionally, locations in Virginia and Maryland offer 50% off on Military Mondays, which Memorial Day falls on in 2025.

• Cici's Pizza typically offers up to 10-25% discounts to military members, including active duty, veterans, and their immediate families.

• Cracker Barrel offers military discounts, though customers need to get a verified promo code for the discount.

• Dairy Queen certain locations offer military and veterans discounts, some up to 50% off select items or orders. However, discounts can vary by store, so it's recommended to check with your local DQ for specific information.

Memorial Day Dining Specials

Several restaurants offer specific promotions around Memorial Day:

• On Armed Forces Day (Saturday, May 17), restaurants are offering a free appetizer with a valid military ID. The offer is limited to one per valid identification and applies to any appetizer or starter priced $22 or less.

• On Memorial Day, active-duty military and veterans receive free admission at various venues, with many restaurants offering complementary meals or special discounts to honor the holiday.

Retail Shopping Discounts

Many retailers offer year-round military discounts, with some enhancing their offers during Military Appreciation Month:

Year-Round Military Discounts

• JoAnn provides a 15% discount on total purchases every day for military service members and eligible family members. Customers must present proof of military service, past or present, or a Military Dependent ID at checkout to receive the discount. This applies to regular, sale-priced, and clearance items.

• Lowe's offers a 10% military discount that requires online registration beforehand. The discount extends to US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, US Marine Corps, US Coast Guard, or the National Guard members who are currently serving in active, reserve, or retired status, as well as Retired Veterans and VA Recipients, along with the immediate family of someone who has a valid military ID Card.

• Michael's extends a 15% military discount every day to US Servicemen and their immediate family as a thank you for their hard work, dedication, and patriotism. The discount applies to entire purchases.

• Nike offers a 10% military discount on Nike.com and at US Nike retail stores (excluding Nike Company/Employee Stores) to active, retired, and reservist US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard personnel.

Military Appreciation Month Special Offers

• Rack Room Shoes offers a 20% discount off the entire purchase in stores on Memorial Day to anyone with a military ID.

• Stargazer Cast Iron cookware is 30% off after verifying online from May 23 through 26.

• Sleep Number is offering exclusive military discounts of an extra 5% through June 16.

• 84 Lumber is doubling its in-store discount for veterans and active-duty service members to 20% off for the month of May at all stores nationwide.

• 7-Eleven is doubling its fuel discount to 10¢ off per gallon for verified 7Rewards and ID.me members during Military Appreciation Month from May 1 to May 31. When combined with the existing 5¢ everyday discount through the 7Rewards app, eligible customers can save at least 15¢ per gallon at all participating 7-Eleven gas stations nationwide.

Financial Services and Special Offers

Several financial institutions and service providers offer special deals for military members during Military Appreciation Month:

• Navy Federal Credit Union is commemorating Military Appreciation Month with celebratory activities and member deals throughout May to honor active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. Special offers include VA loan rates lowered by 0.25% during the entire month of May, a $200 bonus when refinancing a current auto loan from another lender that's at least $5,000, and additional member benefits.

• AARP is offering up to 45% off membership for veterans and military members.

• Travel and resort deals include the opportunity to join certain programs and receive 6 months of Premium Membership for free, plus 7-Night Resort stays for $399. This offer is valid through May 31, 2025, with savings applicable to R&R resorts only through November 1, 2025.

How to Access Military Discounts and Freebies

To take advantage of these military appreciation offers, service members and veterans should follow these general guidelines:

Documentation Requirements

Most military discounts and freebies require verification of service status. This typically involves presenting one of the following forms of identification:

• Military ID card (for active duty, reserve, and National Guard members)
• DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)
• Veterans ID card
• Dependent ID card (for family members)

Online Verification Process

Many retailers and service providers have implemented online verification systems to streamline the discount process. This often involves:

• Creating an account on the retailer's website
• Linking to a verification service like ID.me
• Uploading documentation of military service
• Waiting for verification approval (which may take 24-48 hours)

Tips for Maximizing Military Discounts

• Check with individual businesses about their military discount policies, as offers may vary by location
• Ask about combining military discounts with other promotions or sales
• Download retailer apps that may offer additional digital coupons or exclusive offers
• Keep military identification readily accessible when shopping or dining out
• Check websites frequently, as new offers are often added throughout Military Appreciation Month
• Contact customer service if unsure about eligibility or how to apply a discount

Conclusion

Military Appreciation Month 2025 offers numerous opportunities for service members, veterans, and their families to access freebies, discounts, and special offers across various categories. From entertainment venues and national parks to restaurants and retailers, businesses throughout the country are showing their appreciation for military service in tangible ways.

The discounts range from year-round savings at popular retailers to time-limited offers during specific observances within the month. While many offers are available to all branches of the military for active-duty, retired, and veteran members, some may have specific eligibility requirements or expiration dates.

Service members and veterans should verify current offers with individual businesses, as promotions may change or be subject to location-specific variations. By taking advantage of these opportunities, military families can enjoy significant savings while the nation honors their service and sacrifice during Military Appreciation Month and beyond.

Sources

1. Military Appreciation Month: Top Discounts, Freebies and Giveaways for Military
2. Freebies for Military and Veterans
3. Military Appreciation Month Discounts
4. Military Appreciation Freebies and Discounts
5. Military Appreciation Month and Memorial Day 2025