Complete Guide To 2017 Veterans Day Free Meals Discounts And Offers

Veterans Day 2017 provided numerous opportunities for military personnel and veterans to receive free meals, discounts, and special offers across the United States. Businesses from restaurants to attractions extended their appreciation through various promotions, with most offers valid specifically on November 11, 2017. This comprehensive guide details the available freebies, eligibility requirements, and participation guidelines based on verified information from multiple sources.

Restaurant Free Meals and Discounts

Numerous restaurant chains participated in Veterans Day 2017 by offering complimentary meals to active duty military personnel, veterans, and in some cases, their families. These offers required proof of service, typically in the form of military identification, discharge papers, or veteran organization membership cards.

Several restaurant chains provided free meals specifically on Veterans Day, November 11, 2017. Applebee's offered veterans and active duty military personnel a choice of seven free signature items with valid military ID. Bob Evans provided a free meal from a special menu available all day Saturday at all locations. Buffalo Wild Wings offered diners one free small order of traditional or boneless wings with a side of fries when dining in. Chevys Fresh Mex provided free entrees starting at 11 a.m., though specific details were incomplete in the source material.

Chuck E. Cheese offered one free personal pizza to all active and retired military members at participating stores nationwide on Veterans Day. Macaroni Grill provided free Mom's Ricotta Meatballs & Spaghetti to veterans. Main Event Bowling offered a free entree plus a $10 FUNcard from opening until 5 p.m., including free shoe rental for the veteran and four guests. Margaritas Mexican Restaurant extended complimentary entrees to all veterans, active military members, and their significant others on Veterans Day.

Max & Erma's offered a free Cheeseburger Combo Meal with Dessert, including a cheeseburger, endless fries, and a fountain drink. Menchie's provided free six-ounce frozen yogurt to military personnel. Mimi's Cafe offered free select food items from a special menu on Veterans Day, though a drink purchase was required. Mission BBQ provided a free sandwich and slice of cake to veterans. Native Grill & Wings offered one free menu item with a value up to $11.99. Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub provided a free lunch from their "$9.99 Menu" with the purchase of any entrée. O'Charley's offered a free $9.99 entree at any location, in addition to their year-round 10 percent military discount. On The Border provided a free combo meal from their "Create Your Own Combo" menu, which allowed customers to choose two or three items. Outback Steakhouse offered a free Bloomin' Onion® and a beverage on Veterans Day.

Some restaurants extended their offers to the days leading up to Veterans Day. McCormick and Schmick's provided complimentary lunch or dinner to veterans and Gold Star families on Sunday, November 5, 2017. Aspen Creek Grill offered free meals for Active Duty Military and Veterans on November 10th and 11th from 11am-3pm both days at all locations. BJ's Restaurant offered all veterans and active military a complimentary entrée under $12.95 on Friday and Saturday, November 10-11, with guests over age 21 also eligible for an alcoholic beverage for $6 with presentation of military ID.

IHOP provided free Red, White and Blue pancakes or a patriotic pancake combo from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, November 10, at participating locations. Boston Market offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal on individual meals Friday through Sunday at participating locations, though this required a coupon from their website rather than military ID.

Retail Discounts and Free Products

Several retailers provided special offers for veterans and active military personnel during Veterans Day 2017. Home Depot partnered with TouchNote, a postcard-sending app, to provide thousands of free postcards for people to send veterans notes of gratitude. To send a card, users needed to download the TouchNote app and enter the promo code CHOOSETOSERVE, with each user eligible to send one free postcard to a veteran anywhere in the world.

Various retailers offered percentage-based discounts throughout November as part of Military Family Month promotions. Some establishments provided 20% off the entire month of November for military families, while others offered 10% discounts for the entire month of November. Specific retailer names offering these monthly discounts were not fully detailed in the source material.

Attractions and Entertainment Freebies

Numerous attractions and entertainment venues offered free admission or special discounts to veterans and active military personnel during Veterans Day 2017. These offers varied in duration, with some valid only on November 11, while others extended over multiple days surrounding Veterans Day.

Several museums provided free admission to military personnel. The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, offered free admission on November 11 to veterans and active duty personnel who showed valid service ID. The Des Moines Botanical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, provided free admission to veterans on Saturday, November 11. The Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee offered free museum entry for all active duty servicemembers and veterans and their families from November 10-12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mount Vernon in Virginia provided free admission to all active duty, former, or retired military personnel on Veterans Day. The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri offered free admission during Veterans Day weekend, though specific dates were incomplete in the source material.

The GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico in Mobile offered $5 admission for all active duty service members, veterans and dependents on November 10 and 11. New York City's 9/11 Memorial and Museum offered veterans free admission from Wednesday, November 8 through Sunday, November 12, as part of a five-day tribute honoring service members. The Aerospace Museum of California in Sacramento offered free admission to all guests on Veterans Day, providing an opportunity to view historic military and civilian aircrafts.

Special lodging accommodations were also available through B&Bs for Vets, which provided complimentary rooms to retired veterans and active duty military members on November 9, 10, or 11, 2017. Participation dates varied by innkeeper, with some inns dedicating the whole property to free rooms for veterans while others extended offers with discounts throughout the month.

Recreational areas also participated in the Veterans Day appreciation events. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers waived all day use fees at more than 2,800 recreation areas nationwide on November 11, extending this waiver to all veterans, active and reserve component service members, and their families.

Service Offers

Several service providers offered complimentary services to veterans and active military personnel in recognition of Veterans Day 2017. Barber shops and salons provided free haircuts to veterans on Veterans Day, with some locations also offering free haircut cards that could be used through December 31. These establishments also provided non-veterans who got haircuts on Veterans Day with a free haircut card to give to a veteran, extending the appreciation beyond military personnel.

Car wash services were mentioned as offering free services to veterans, though specific details about participating locations and terms were not fully detailed in the source material.

Monthly Military Discounts

In addition to Veterans Day-specific offers, several businesses extended appreciation through monthly discounts throughout November 2017. These Military Family Month promotions provided ongoing benefits to military personnel and their families.

Eat'nPark offered all active and former United States military personnel a special 10% discount for the entire month of November. Multiple restaurant chains provided 20% off the entire month of November for Military Family Month, though specific restaurant names were not fully detailed in all sources. O'Charley's offered a 10 percent military discount year-round, in addition to their Veterans Day special offer.

Eligibility Requirements and Proof of Service

Most Veterans Day 2017 offers required proof of military service or status. The most commonly accepted forms of identification included valid military ID cards, discharge papers, VA cards, and veteran organization membership cards. Some establishments accepted wearing a military uniform as a form of identification.

Eligibility varied by offer, with some extending to active duty military personnel only, while others included veterans, reservists, and in some cases, family members and significant others. The Main Event Bowling offer, for example, extended benefits to four guests accompanying the veteran. Margaritas Mexican Restaurant provided complimentary meals to veterans, active military members, and their significant others.

Participation was generally limited to participating locations, and many businesses advised customers to check with their local stores to ensure participation. Some offers required additional purchases or had specific time limitations, such as Mimi's Cafe which required a drink purchase with the free food items.

Conclusion

Veterans Day 2017 provided numerous opportunities for military personnel and veterans to receive free meals, discounts, and special offers across various sectors including dining, retail, attractions, and services. While most offers were specifically valid on November 11, 2017, some extended to the surrounding days or provided monthly benefits throughout November. Eligibility requirements typically involved proof of military service through various forms of identification, with some offers extending to family members. The wide range of offerings demonstrated the nation's appreciation for military service and sacrifice, providing tangible benefits to those who have served their country.

Sources

1. International Business Times - Veterans Day 2017 Free Meals Complete List
2. KCBD - Veterans Day Freebies for Veterans and Active Military
3. MOAA - 2017 Veterans Day Discounts
4. AL.com - Veterans Day 2017 Best Deals
5. Fox 7 Austin - Veterans Day 2017 A List of Free Meals and Discounts
6. TCPalm - Veterans Day Freebies and Discounts
7. Fortune - Veterans Day 2017 Free Deals