Veterans Day 2016 Complete Guide To Free Meals Services And Discounts For Military Personnel

Veterans Day 2016 offers numerous free meals, services, and discounts for veterans, active duty military personnel, and their families across the United States. Businesses from various industries have come together to honor military service members with special offers ranging from complimentary meals to free admission attractions and professional services. This comprehensive guide details the available opportunities, eligibility requirements, and participation guidelines to help veterans and service members maximize their Veterans Day benefits.

Restaurant Free Meals and Discounts

Many restaurants nationwide participate in Veterans Day celebrations by offering free meals or significant discounts to military personnel. These offers typically require proof of service through military identification or by wearing military uniforms.

Fast Food and Casual Dining Chains

Wienerschnitzel provided veterans and active duty military with a free chili dog, small fries, and 20-ounce drink on November 11, 2016. This offer was valid with military ID or when service members wore their military uniform to the restaurant. In San Diego alone, there were more than 10 participating locations.

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse offered a free entrée valued at $12.95 or less to veterans and active duty military nationwide. Military ID or proof of service was required for this offer. Additionally, the restaurant provided $5 craft beers for all patrons aged 21 and older to honor military personnel. San Diego locations included La Jolla, La Mesa, Chula Vista, and Mission Valley.

Hooters invited veterans and active duty military to eat for free on November 11, with participants choosing from the chain's Veterans Day Menu. Options included 10-piece traditional wings, 10-piece boneless wings, a Hooters burger, a buffalo chicken salad, or a buffalo chicken sandwich. Military ID or proof of service was required, with locations available in downtown San Diego and Mission Valley.

Steakhouse and Family Dining Establishments

Black Angus Steakhouse honored veterans with a complimentary top sirloin steak dinner that included mashed potatoes, broccoli, and sweet molasses bread. This nationwide offer was available at San Diego County locations in Mission Valley, El Cajon, Escondido, and Chula Vista.

McCormick & Schmick's offered free meals to veterans and active duty military, though their special promotion was always scheduled for the Sunday before Veterans Day rather than on November 11 itself.

Regional Restaurant Offers

In various regions, additional restaurants provided Veterans Day specials:

• Atlanta Bread Company offered 20% off menu items for veterans and active duty service members
• Buffalo Wild Wings provided one complimentary small traditional or boneless wings (10-12 wings) with a small order of fries
• Cheddar's offered free Chips-N-Queso to all veterans
• The Courtyard by Marriott provided one free Starbucks specialty coffee or regular coffee to veterans from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., with their Bistro Restaurant offering half-price soup and sandwich meals from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• The Curry Mantra gave 10% off menu items to all veterans
• Dunkin' Donuts provided one free medium hot coffee for all veterans
• Fatz Café offered one free 'World Famous Calabash Chicken' entrée with a 'Signature Sidekick' and choice of soup or salad (dine-in only)
• Fazoli's provided one free 'Build Your Own Pasta Bowl' for veterans and active duty members with ID or uniform
• Uncle Maddio's Pizza gave one free 9" three-topping pizza for all veterans
• Yard House offered a free appetizer (dine-in only) on November 11 for veterans and active-duty military members
• WingStop provided a free 6-piece boneless wings combo including wings, a regular side, dipping sauce, and a 20 oz. drink with no ID required

Additional Restaurant Free Meals

Other restaurants confirmed to offer free meals on Veterans Day 2016 included Applebee's, Denny's, Golden Corral, and Logan's. Golden Corral's Military Appreciation Night specifically took place on Monday, November 14, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., where veterans received a free meal.

Free Services and Professional Offerings

Several businesses provided complimentary services to military personnel as a token of appreciation for their service.

Personal Care Services

Multiple haircut establishments offered free services to veterans and active duty military:

• Fantastic Sam's provided free haircuts on November 11 for active-duty military personnel and veterans with military ID. This offer could not be combined with other discounts and was valid only at participating locations, requiring advance confirmation.
• Great Clips offered free haircuts on November 11 or a free-haircut card for use on a later date for active-duty military personnel and veterans. Non-military members could purchase a service on Veterans Day and receive a free haircut card to gift to a veteran. Veterans could redeem their free haircut cards from November 12 to December 31.
• Sport Clips provided free haircuts for active-duty military and veterans on November 11 with military ID.

Automotive Services

Automotive service businesses also participated in Veterans Day appreciation:

• Goo-Goo Express Wash, on behalf of the Grace for Vets Foundation, offered free $7 washes to veterans and active duty service members at both of their locations.
• Meineke provided free basic oil changes for active-duty military personnel and veterans with military ID. However, since many Meineke locations are independently owned, participants were advised to call ahead to verify participation.

Entertainment and Recreation Services

• Rigby's Entertainment Complex offered one free hour of bowling from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for veterans and active duty service members. The offer included up to 4 guests per service member, with an additional 10% off concession and food items for all veterans and active duty service members.
• 4ore Golf in Lubbock provided complimentary golf from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. for veterans and up to six guests.

Other Service Offers

• Pound Cake Company offered free shipping on any gift from the Military Service Collection when using the promo code MILITARY.
• Smoothie King provided 50% off all smoothies to veterans with valid ID or uniform.
• Shane's Ribshack offered 20% discounts for all veterans and active duty military.
• Sonny's Barbecue gave 50% off dine-in meals for veterans.
• The UPS Store provided 10% off all products including stamps for veterans and active duty military.
• UFC Gym offered free gym use from November 11 to November 17.

Retail Discounts and Special Offers

Retailers and service providers offered special discounts and promotions for military personnel during Veterans Day 2016.

• Scottsdale Bullion & Coin honored veterans and active military members with an exclusive 1% discount on all purchases made between November 9 and November 11, 2016. Additionally, throughout November, the company donated a portion of all profits to the American Service Animal Society (ASAS), a nonprofit that enables disabled veterans to live more productive lives through service animals.
• Lowe's offered veterans and their families 10 percent off their purchases on Friday.
• Curry Mantra provided 10% off menu items for all veterans.

Free Admission to Attractions and Events

Several attractions and venues offered free admission to veterans and active duty military personnel and their families on Veterans Day 2016.

• National Parks provided free admission on November 11 at parks that normally charge an admission fee.
• The USS Midway Museum offered active duty and veteran military members -- and their families -- free admission on November 11. Additionally, a Veterans Day celebration took place at the museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• SeaWorld San Diego provided free single-day admission through the Waves of Honor Veterans Salute for military veterans and up to 3 guests. This offer was available online only with a valid ID and could not be redeemed at the park's front gate. The offer remained valid until December 31, 2016.
• Knott's Berry Farm offered free admission to all U.S. veterans, retired and active military personnel and a guest. The venue also provided discounts for up to 6 additional people for $27 until November 18. From November 28 to December 16, additional guest tickets would cost $30. All additional admission tickets needed to be purchased by a military ID holder, and the offer included military reserves and Department of Defense personnel.

Important Considerations for Participation

When taking advantage of Veterans Day offers, military personnel should keep several considerations in mind:

1. Proof of Service Requirements: Many offers require military ID or proof of service. Some businesses may accept uniforms as proof, but participants should confirm specific requirements in advance.

2. Participating Locations: Not all locations within a chain may participate in Veterans Day promotions. It's advisable to call ahead or check the company's website to confirm participation at specific locations.

3. Date Restrictions: While most offers were available on November 11, 2016, some businesses extended their promotions to surrounding dates or offered them on different days. McCormick & Schmick's, for example, offered their free meal on the Sunday before Veterans Day.

4. Offer Limitations: Some offers had limitations on menu selections or item values. BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, for instance, limited free entrées to those valued at $12.95 or less.

5. Advance Reservations: Certain attractions like SeaWorld San Diego required online registration in advance, with offers not available at the park's front gate.

6. Guest Policies: Many offers included provisions for guests, such as SeaWorld's offer for veterans plus up to 3 guests or Rigby's Entertainment Complex's offer for up to 4 guests per service member.

Conclusion

Veterans Day 2016 provided numerous opportunities for veterans, active duty military personnel, and their families to receive free meals, services, and discounts as tokens of appreciation for their service. From complimentary meals at popular restaurant chains to free admission at attractions and professional services, businesses across various industries demonstrated their support for military personnel. When participating in these offers, military members should confirm eligibility requirements, participating locations, and any restrictions in advance to ensure a smooth experience. These promotions not only provide tangible benefits but also serve as meaningful acknowledgments of the sacrifices made by those who have served in the armed forces.

Sources

1. NBC San Diego - Veterans Day 2016 Freebies Deals San Diego Military
2. Coalition of Vets - Veterans Day Deals 2016
3. Robins Region - Veterans Eat Free Save
4. WRTV - Veterans Day 2016 Where to Get Deals Freebies
5. 10News - Veterans Day 2016 Freebies Deals Nov 2016
6. KCBD - Here is List Some Discounts Free Meals Veterans Day