Veterans Day 2018 Complete Guide To Free Meals And Restaurant Offers

Veterans Day 2018 provided numerous opportunities for active military personnel, veterans, and their families to enjoy complimentary meals at restaurants across the United States. As the holiday fell on a Sunday that year, many establishments extended their offers through Monday, November 12, creating an extended period of appreciation for those who have served in the armed forces. This comprehensive guide details all the verified free meal offers available during Veterans Day 2018, based on information from multiple sources covering restaurant chains and local establishments that participated in this annual tradition of honoring military service.

Restaurant Chains Offering Free Meals in 2018

Several national restaurant chains participated in Veterans Day 2018 by offering free meals to active duty military, veterans, and in some cases, their families. These offers typically required proof of military service, such as a military ID, DD214 form, or other documentation verifying service status.

Applebee's celebrated a decade of providing free meals to veterans on Veterans Day 2018. The American food chain offered active duty military and veterans one free meal from a selection of eight entrees. This long-standing tradition had been serving free food to millions of veterans for ten consecutive years at the time. The offer was valid at participating locations nationwide with proper military identification.

Baker's Square participated in the 2018 appreciation by offering a complimentary breakfast to active duty military and veterans on Sunday, November 11. Participants could choose from three Buttermilk Pancakes, three slices of French Toast, or one Belgian Waffle. This breakfast offering was available at all Baker's Square locations with proof of military service.

Bar Louie provided veterans with a free meal option on Veterans Day 2018. The restaurant and bar chain offered active military members and veterans one free Flatbread or Burger, with a maximum value of $15. This offer required military identification and was available at participating locations on Sunday, November 11.

BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse honored veterans by offering a free entree with a value up to $12.95, plus a complimentary Dr. Pepper beverage on Veterans Day. The offer was valid for all active duty military and veterans. Additionally, BJ's extended their appreciation through November 2018 by offering a free Pizookie® for current or retired military members from November 1 through November 30, 2018, while supplies lasted.

Bob Evans restaurants participated in Veterans Day 2018 by offering free select breakfast, lunch, and dinner items to active duty military, retirees, and veterans who presented proper identification or proof of service. The specific menu items varied by location, and the offer was valid at all Bob Evans establishments.

Boston Market provided a two-day offer for Veterans Day 2018, running from November 11 through November 12. Customers could buy one individual meal with a drink and receive a second meal free at all U.S. locations. This offer required a coupon but did not require military identification. The promotion was available at all Boston Market locations across the country.

Bruegger's Bagels showed appreciation for military service by offering all veterans and active military personnel a free cup of drip coffee in any size on the observed Veterans Day. This complimentary coffee was available at all Bruegger's Bagels locations on Sunday, November 11, 2018.

54th Street Grill & Bar participated in the 2018 Veterans Day celebrations by offering veterans and active duty personnel a free meal valued up to $12.00. Additionally, the restaurant encouraged customers to invite military members to take advantage of the deal and offered an incentive: customers could win a gift card by posting their photo on Instagram with the hashtag #54SupportVets.

Arooga's, a sports bar chain, allowed veterans to dine in for free on Veterans Day 2018. Military personnel had the option of selecting one meal from the restaurant's fixed menu, which included items such as their BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich and Sriracha Chicken Caesar salad. This offer required proof of military service.

Buffalo Wild Wings brought back their annual Veteran's Day menu item, Wings For Heroes, to serve active military members and veterans in 2018. This special menu offered complimentary wings to honor military service.

Grub Burger Bar announced through a press release that they would be serving complimentary Veteran's Day entrées to "active, former and retired veterans" in 2018. The restaurant also extended appreciation year-round by offering veterans and active military 10 percent off any purchase, provided they wore their uniform or brought ID proof of military service.

Regional and Local Offers in 2018

In addition to national chains, numerous regional and local restaurants offered special Veterans Day promotions in 2018. Wichita, Kansas, in particular, had a variety of offers at specific locations throughout the city.

Several Wichita-area restaurants provided free meals to veterans and active-duty military on Veterans Day 2018. At 7960 E Kellogg Dr, veterans and active military could receive a free Roast Beef sandwich on both Sunday and Monday. Another location at 4521 E 21st St N #104 offered a free entree up to $12.95, including a beverage, on Veterans Day.

The Braeburn Square location, situated at 412 S. Towne East Mall Drive, provided 20% off WSU-imprinted items from noon to 6 p.m. on Veterans Day. At 410 N Hillside St #500, veterans and active military could enjoy a free lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. from a special menu that included items like Chicken Crispers, Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas, and the Just Bacon Burger.

Boston Market locations in Wichita offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal on Sunday, November 11. At the same address (410 N Hillside St), customers could also receive a free double chocolate fudge Coca-Cola cake dessert with dine-in service only.

A sandwich shop located at 2433 W. Douglas provided free sandwich meals to veterans and active military personnel. Meanwhile, a hair salon offered free haircuts for veterans, active military, reservists, and National Guard members (this service was not open to the general public).

A donut shop in Wichita offered free donuts on Sunday with no purchase required. Another establishment at 410 N Hillside St provided a free combo meal card valid through November 30. Veterans and active military received a buy-one-get-one-free deal on full-size entrees at another Wichita restaurant.

A haircut salon offered veterans and active military either a free haircut on Veterans Day or a free haircut card to use any day through December 31. Additionally, a different donut shop chain in Wichita offered a free donut and 12-ounce coffee on Sunday at all their locations. Finally, a pizza chain provided a free Hot-N-Ready lunch combo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Veterans Day.

Additional Freebies and Discounts Beyond Food

In addition to complimentary meals, many businesses offered other free items and discounts to veterans and active military personnel during Veterans Day 2018. These non-food offerings demonstrated the breadth of appreciation extended to those who have served.

Several establishments provided complimentary beverages to military personnel. Starbucks, for example, offered service members and their spouses a free tall hot brewed coffee on Veterans Day. Bruegger's Bagels also joined in by offering free coffee to veterans and active military personnel.

Haircare services were commonly offered as freebies. Sport Clips provided free haircuts for veterans on November 11, 2018, and also conducted in-store fundraising for the VFW's Help A Hero Scholarship program running from October 5 through November 15. Another salon offered free haircuts or haircut cards valid through December 31.

Retail establishments showed appreciation through discounts. A.C. Moore offered 15% off every time veterans shopped with a military ID. Dollar General provided 11% off to veterans on Veterans Day, November 11.

Some restaurants offered complimentary appetizers or desserts. Outback Steakhouse gave service members a free Bloomin' Onion and Coke product. Red Robin provided military personnel with a free Red's Tavern Double Burger served with bottomless fries at participating locations. Ruby Tuesday offered veterans $10 off their appetizer, or a free appetizer if the value was below $10. Bonefish Grill gave complimentary Bang Bang Shrimp appetizers to military ID holders. Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen provided veterans with a free appetizer or dessert. Hooters offered all military members, both active-duty and veterans, a free entree from a select menu with military ID presentation. Yard House also provided a complimentary appetizer to military ID holders.

Kolache Factory offered free food to military personnel, specifically one free kolache and one cup of coffee with military ID presentation.

How to Access Veterans Day Free Meals

Accessing Veterans Day free meals and discounts typically required proper documentation to verify military service. The most common forms of accepted identification included:

• Military ID card (active duty, reserves, National Guard)
• DD214 discharge papers (for veterans)
• Veterans Administration card
• Driver's license with veteran designation
• Other official documentation proving military service

Most establishments required dine-in service for the free meal offers, with limited availability for takeout or delivery. Some restaurants specified that offers were valid only for the individual military member and not extendable to family members, though others did include family members in their promotions.

Participation varied by location, even within the same restaurant chain. It was always recommended to call ahead to confirm participation and any location-specific restrictions. Many restaurants noted that offers were subject to change and subject to availability.

The timing of offers also varied by establishment. While most were available on Veterans Day itself (Sunday, November 11, 2018), many extended their offers through Monday, November 12, since the holiday fell on a weekend. Some offers were available for multiple days surrounding Veterans Day, such as Boston Market's two-day promotion.

Conclusion

Veterans Day 2018 provided numerous opportunities for active military personnel, veterans, and their families to enjoy complimentary meals and discounts at restaurants across the United States. From national chains like Applebee's, which celebrated a decade of offering free meals, to local establishments in cities like Wichita, the day was marked by widespread appreciation for military service.

The variety of offerings included free breakfast items, lunch and dinner entrees, appetizers, desserts, and beverages. Many restaurants extended their appreciation beyond just the meal itself, with some offering year-round discounts or additional benefits. While participation requirements varied, most establishments required proof of military service through identification like military IDs or DD214 papers.

As Veterans Day continues to be observed each year, both veterans and active-duty military can anticipate similar offers from participating restaurants and businesses. Those interested in taking advantage of these promotions are advised to verify participation requirements and location-specific details, as offers may change annually and participation may vary by establishment.

Sources

1. News 5 Cleveland - Here's a list of 50+ freebies for veterans to enjoy this holiday weekend
2. People Magazine - All of the Restaurants Where Military Members Can Get Free Food on Veteran's Day
3. Kwch.com - Veterans Day 2018 freebies, deals and discounts
4. Omaha Nebraska - Veterans Day 2025 discounts and freebies
5. Veteran.com - Veterans Day discounts, sales, deals, free meals
6. ABC7 News - Here's where to get Veterans Day freebies