2018 Veterans Day Freebies And Promotional Offers A Comprehensive Guide

The provided source data compiled in late 2018 details a wide array of freebies, discounts, and special offers available to veterans, active-duty military personnel, and, in some cases, their spouses or family members on or around Veterans Day 2018, which fell on Sunday, November 11th. While the majority of offers centered around the primary date, several were valid for extended periods, such as the entire week surrounding the holiday or throughout the month of November. The offers span multiple categories, from complimentary meals and beverages at national restaurant chains to free services in personal care, automotive, and retail sectors. The data emphasizes the importance of proof of military service, typically a valid military identification card, and highlights that many offers are available while supplies last or are limited to the first 1,500 applicants.

Food and Beverage Freebies on November 11-12, 2018

A significant number of the documented freebies on Veterans Day 2018 were food and beverage offers from various dining establishments. These ranged from specific menu items to full meals, and from beverages to dessert, often with conditions such as a purchase of a drink or a requirement to dine in.

National Restaurant Chains and Major Chains

• Applebee's: Offered a free entrée from a special menu on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, for dine-in only with proof of service.
• Bar Louie: Provided a free flatbread or burger for veterans and active duty military with a military ID on Sunday, November 11th, 2018. The chain also ran a "Mission for Vets" campaign the week of November 5-12, encouraging donations to Operation Homefront.
• Bob Evans: Veterans and active duty military received a free meal on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, with choices including breakfast items like the Country Biscuit Breakfast and dinner selections like Country Fried Steak.
• Bonefish Grill: Offered a complimentary Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer to active and retired service members with a valid military ID on Sunday, November 11th, 2018.
• California Pizza Kitchen (CPK): Veterans and active military received a free entrée on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, from a special menu that included certain pizzas, salads, and pastas. The offer was dine-in only and required proof of military status or being in uniform.
• Chick-fil-A: Locations in the Metro Charlotte area offered a free Chick-fil-A entrée on Monday, November 12th, 2018. The free item was a Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit from restaurant opening until 10:30 a.m. and a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Chili's Grill & Bar: All veterans and active duty military personnel could choose a complimentary meal from a select menu on Sunday, November 11th, 2018. Offerings included items like Chicken Crispers, Margarita Grilled Chicken, Oldtimer with Cheese, and Cajun Chicken Pasta.
• Chipotle: Offered a buy-one-get-one deal to active duty military, reserves, National Guard, military spouses, and retired military with valid ID on Sunday, November 11th, 2018. The free item required the purchase of an entrée of equal or greater value.
• Cotton Patch Cafe: Veterans and active duty military could enjoy a free Chicken Fried Steak or Chicken Fried Chicken on Veterans Day.
• Cracker Barrel Old Country Store: Veterans received a complimentary Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake dessert or Crafted Coffee beverage on Sunday, November 11th, 2018. The offer also included an opportunity for guests to make purchases supporting Operation Homefront.
• Denny's: Veterans and military personnel received a free "Build-Your-Own Grand Slam" on Monday, November 12th, 2018, from 5 a.m. to noon.
• Dunkin’ Donuts: Veterans and active duty military enjoyed a free donut at participating restaurants nationwide on November 11th, 2018, with no purchase necessary.
• El Torito & El Torito Grill: On Veterans Day from 3 p.m. to closing, El Torito offered a complimentary 3-item combo meal, and El Torito Grill offered a choice between a Two-Item Combo, Fajita Salad, Mesquite Grilled Chicken Tostada, and Carnitas Yucatán.
• Friendly's: Treated veterans and active military with a valid military ID or honorable discharge card to a free dine-in breakfast, lunch, or dinner from select menus on Sunday, November 11th, 2018.
• Golden Corral: Its annual Military Appreciation Night dinner was held on Monday, November 12th, 2018, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Any person who has ever served in the United States Military was eligible for a free meal. An extended 18th annual dinner was also noted from 5-9 p.m. at select locations.
• Green Mill Restaurant and Bar: Veterans and active duty military received a free lunch or dinner dine-in meal at participating locations on Sunday, November 11th, 2018. Proof of service was required, and beverages and gratuity were not included.
• Hickory Tavern: Invited Veterans and active duty military to celebrate with a free Tavern Burger with the purchase of a beverage on Sunday, November 11th, 2018. Some restrictions applied, and proof of service was required.
• Hooters: Offered a free entrée when a beverage was purchased on Sunday, November 11th, 2018. Choices included 10-piece Traditional Wings, 10-piece Smoked Wings, 10-piece Boneless Wings, Hooters Burger, Buffalo Chicken Salad, and Buffalo Chicken Sandwich.
• Hoss’s Family Steak & Sea House: Provided a free Soup, Salad, and Desert Bar from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 11th, 2018.
• K&W Cafeteria: Offered a free meal with a beverage on Sunday, November 11th, 2018.
• Kings Family Restaurant: Served a free meal from a select menu on Sunday, November 11th, 2018.
• Shoney's: Veterans and active duty military received a free all-you-care-to-eat breakfast bar from opening until 11 a.m. on Monday, November 12th, 2018.
• TCBY at Berewick: Veterans received 3 oz. of frozen yogurt for free on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, at 4833-A Berewick Town Center Drive. (Note: This is a specific location, not a national offer).
• Wild Wing Cafe: Offered a free meal on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, with choices from any Awesome Salad, Wild Wrap, Beefy Burger, or Chicken Sandwich.
• World of Beer: All veterans received one free draught beer or $5 off their check on Sunday, November 11th, 2018.

Additional Noted Restaurants

• BLT Steak: On Sunday, November 11th, 2018, veterans and active duty military received 50% off parties of 2 or less and 25% off parties of 3 or more. Only one member of the party needed to be a veteran or active duty military member.
• Burntwood Tavern: Offered a free lunch or dinner, with locations as the only detail provided.
• Chicken Salad Chick: Served a free Chick Meal and drink, which included 1 Scoop or Sandwich, plus one scoop, side, or cup of soup. Locations were noted.
• Fatz Eatz & Drinkz: Provided a free meal on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, with proof of service required. A separate offer for Monday, November 12th, listed a free World Famous Calabash Chicken basket with a military ID required, along with 25% off meals for veterans and active military for the entire month of November.
• Firebird's Grill: Hosted a "Dine with a Veteran or Active Duty Service Member" event on Monday, November 12th, 2018, where the service member's lunch or dinner was complimentary. A valid form of military ID or wearing a uniform was required.
• JJ’s Red Hots: Offered a free combo meal to veterans and troops all day on Monday, November 12th, 2018.
• Logan's Roadhouse: Served a free meal from the American Roadhouse Meals menu to Veterans and Military Personnel on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with a valid military ID. The beverage was not included.
• McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks: Invited Veterans and Gold Star honorees (parents and spouses) to enjoy a free entrée on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, available for both lunch and dinner.
• Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt: Veterans and active duty military received up to 6 ounces of frozen yogurt on Sunday, November 11th, 2018. (Note: This is listed separately from the specific TCBY location).
• On the Border: An offer was noted but the details were incomplete in the source data.
• Grub Burger Bar: An offer was noted but the details were incomplete in the source data.
• BLT Steak: The discount details were provided (see above).

Free Services and Retail Offers on November 11, 2018

Beyond food and beverage, the source data documented free services offered on Veterans Day 2018. These were primarily concentrated in the personal care sector, with one notable automotive offer and a retail offer for veterans.

• Great Clips: Veterans and active duty military could receive a free haircut on Sunday, November 11th, 2018. Non-veterans could get a coupon to give to a veteran to facilitate the offer.
• Sports Clips: Military members could get a free haircut on Sunday, November 11th, 2018. Additionally, $1 from every hair service performed on November 11th was donated to the "Help A Hero" fundraising campaign.
• Grace for Vets: Veterans and military members could receive a free car wash on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, by visiting GraceforVets.org for a list of participating car washes.
• Guitar Center: All veterans and active duty military received a free set of guitar strings and restringing service on Sunday, November 11th, 2018, at any Guitar Center location that does repairs. Veterans and active duty personnel also received 10% off in-store purchases all year long.

Long-Term Offers Valid in November 2018

Some offers extended beyond the specific day of November 11th, providing veterans and military members with opportunities to save throughout the month or for an extended period.

• Fatz Eatz & Drinkz: For the entire month of November 2018, veterans and active military members received 25% off their meal.
• Guitar Center: Veterans and active duty personnel received 10% off in-store purchases all year long, not just on Veterans Day.
• Westgate Resorts: Offered a free resort stay, limited to the first 1,500 applicants. Registration was required on November 9th, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. EST.
• Legion Brewing Plaza Midwood: From November 5-12, 2018, the brewery thanked Veterans and Active Military with a free pint. Anyone could buy a beer for a vet, which could then be redeemed by any service member with proof of service and military ID. The offer was available while supplies lasted at 1906 Commonwealth Avenue.

Key Takeaways and Considerations

The numerous freebies listed for 2018 demonstrate a broad recognition of the sacrifices made by military personnel. A few common threads run through the documented offers:

1. Eligibility: The vast majority of offers were clearly defined for veterans, active-duty military, and, in some cases, specific family members like spouses or parents of Gold Star honorees. Proof of service, usually a valid military ID or a uniform, was a standard requirement.
2. Location Specificity: While many offers were nationwide (e.g., Dunkin' Donuts, Applebee's), others were limited to participating locations (e.g., Grace for Vets car washes) or even specific restaurants (e.g., TCBY at Berewick, Legion Brewing Plaza Midwood). This required veterans to confirm availability at their local establishments.
3. Conditions: Many free items came with conditions. These included dine-in only requirements, the need to purchase a beverage (e.g., Hooters, Hickory Tavern), and a time window for the offer (e.g., Denny's from 5 a.m. to noon, Golden Corral from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.).
4. Availability: Phrases like "available while supplies last" and the Westgate Resorts registration limit of 1,500 applicants highlighted the importance of acting quickly to claim these offers.
5. Incomplete Information: The source data for 2018 contains offers from several businesses, such as "On the Border" and "Grub Burger Bar," that are only mentioned with no further details provided, and some entries for "BJ’s Restaurant" and "Super 8 by Wyndham" were cut off, leaving their full offers unknown.

The provided source material does not contain information on specific offers available in Cookeville, Tennessee, for Veterans Day 2018. Therefore, this guide serves as a comprehensive overview of the freebies and promotions detailed in the 2018 sources, and veterans in Cookeville would need to check with local businesses to see if they participated in any of these national programs or offered their own local recognition.

Conclusion

The array of freebies and offers available on and around Veterans Day in 2018 was extensive, covering a wide spectrum of consumer categories, from full-service meals and beverages to practical services like haircuts and car washes. The primary date of November 11th saw the majority of activity, but several offers extended into the week following or throughout the month, providing multiple opportunities for military members to save. To take advantage of these offers, it was crucial for veterans and active-duty personnel to have their military identification readily available and to be aware of any location-specific or time-sensitive conditions attached to the free offers. While the data is a snapshot of 2018, it illustrates the common structure and considerations involved in these promotional programs for military appreciation days.

Sources

1. 30 Free Meals and More for Military on Veterans Day 2018 (Black Wednesday Co.)
2. Veterans Day 2018: Freebies for Veterans Day (USVAVEO GovDelivery)
3. List of 2018 Veterans Day Freebies (Mix 106 Radio)