Comprehensive Guide To 2017 Veterans Day Free Meals And Discounts For Military Personnel

Veterans Day 2017, observed on Saturday, November 11th, prompted numerous businesses across the United States to express gratitude to military personnel through special offers, free meals, and discounts. Many restaurants, retail establishments, and service providers participated in this tradition of thanking active duty service members, veterans, and in some cases, their families. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the freebies and discounts available during the 2017 Veterans Day weekend, organized by category and location.

Restaurant Free Meals

Applebee's: Applebee's Neighborhood Grill participated in the Veterans Day appreciation by offering a free meal from a special menu to veterans and active-duty service members. The offer was available on Veterans Day itself, November 11th, 2017, at locations nationwide. Proof of service in the form of a military ID or other documentation was required to receive the complimentary meal.

BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse: BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse provided complimentary entrees valued up to $12.95 on both Friday, November 10th, and Saturday, November 11th, 2017. Additionally, guests over the age of 21 had the option to receive an alcoholic beverage for $6. The restaurant required presentation of a military ID to redeem this offer, which was available at all BJ's Restaurant locations.

Bonefish Grill: Bonefish Grill offered a free bang bang shrimp appetizer to veterans and active military personnel on Veterans Day. This popular appetizer was provided as a token of appreciation for their service, with proof of service required at participating locations.

Buffalo Wild Wings: Buffalo Wild Wings, often referred to as "B-Dubs," participated in the Veterans Day appreciation by offering veterans and active duty military personnel a free small order of traditional or boneless wings with a side of fries. This offer was available all day on Veterans Day, November 11th, 2017, at participating locations for dine-in customers only.

Chili's: Similar to Applebee's, Chili's restaurant chain offered a free meal from a special menu to veterans and active-duty service members on Veterans Day. The specific menu items available varied by location, and proof of military service was required to receive the complimentary meal.

Cracker Barrel: Cracker Barrel showed appreciation for military service by offering a free slice of their signature double chocolate fudge Coca-Cola cake to veterans and active-duty personnel on Veterans Day. This sweet treat was available at participating locations with proof of service.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit: Dickey's Barbecue Pit provided a complimentary meal consisting of a sandwich, a savory side, and a drink in their signature "big yellow cup" to veterans and active military personnel on Veterans Day. This offer was available at participating locations with proper identification.

Aspen Creek Grill: Aspen Creek Grill offered free meals to active duty military and veterans on both Friday and Saturday, November 10th and 11th, 2017, from 11am to 3pm each day. The offer was valid at all Aspen Creek Grill locations and required proof of military service.

Bar Louie: Bar Louie participated in Veterans Day appreciation by offering veterans and active military personnel a choice between a free flatbread or burger. This offer was available at participating locations with proof of service.

Bubba's 33: Bubba's 33 restaurant provided free lunch from a special menu for active duty military and veterans on Veterans Day, November 11th, 2017, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The offer was valid at participating locations with proof of military status.

Carrabba's Italian Grill: Carrabba's Italian Grill showed appreciation for military service by offering a free appetizer to veterans and active-duty personnel on Veterans Day. The specific appetizer options varied by location, and proof of service was required.

Chuck E. Cheese: Chuck E. Cheese offered one free personal pizza to all active and retired military members at participating stores nationwide on Veterans Day, November 11th, 2017. This family-friendly option allowed military families to enjoy a complimentary meal while celebrating their service member.

Margaritas Mexican Restaurant: Margaritas Mexican Restaurant extended appreciation to veterans and active members of the military by offering complimentary entrees on Veterans Day. Notably, this offer also included their significant others, making it a family-friendly gesture of gratitude.

Max & Erma's: Participating Max & Erma's locations celebrated veterans and active military personnel on Veterans Day with a free cheeseburger combo meal that included endless fries and a fountain drink. This hearty offering was available at participating locations with proper identification.

Charlie Brown's Steakhouse: Charlie Brown's Steakhouse provided free lunch to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Friday, November 10th, from 11am to 3pm. This early celebration allowed military members to enjoy a complimentary meal before the actual holiday weekend.

Chicken Salad Chick: Chicken Salad Chick offered veterans a free Chick Meal and a drink on Friday, November 10th. The offer included one scoop or sandwich plus one scoop, side, or cup of soup, and required proof of service such as a VA ID, Military ID, or DD-214.

Denny's: Denny's restaurants nationwide offered a free Build Your Own Grand Slam breakfast to all active, inactive, and retired military personnel on Friday, November 10th, from 5 a.m. to noon. Diners needed to show valid identification to receive this complimentary meal.

Farmer Boys: Farmer Boys participated in Veterans Day appreciation by offering veterans and active duty military personnel a free big cheese cheeseburger on Friday, November 10th. This offer required valid proof of service at participating locations.

Hoss's Family Steak & Sea House: Hoss's Family Steak & Sea House provided veterans and active duty military personnel with a choice between four meals on Friday, November 10th, from 11am to 9pm. Valid identification proving military status was required to receive this offer.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill: Firebirds Wood Fired Grill offered a unique promotion where veterans and active duty service members could dine with a companion on Friday, and their lunch or dinner would be free. The free entree needed to be of equal or lesser value than the purchased meal.

Mimi's Cafe: Mimi's Cafe allowed U.S. veterans or active duty military personnel to select food items from a special menu on Veterans Day 2017 for free. However, a drink purchase was required with this offer.

Restaurant Discounts and Other Offers

Chipotle: Chipotle offered a buy-one/get-one free promotion for burritos, bowls, salads, or orders of tacos on November 7th, 2017, from 5 p.m. to close. This offer was valid only for in-restaurant orders and not applicable to online, mobile, fax, or catering orders.

IHOP: IHOP provided veterans and active military personnel with a free stack of Red, White and Blue pancakes or a patriotic pancake combo on Friday, November 10th, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at participating locations. The specific offer varied by location.

Bruegger's Bagels: Bruegger's Bagels offered U.S. military veterans and active military members a free small drip coffee on Veterans Day. No purchase was necessary for this offer, though valid identification and proof of service were required.

Menchie's: Menchie's Frozen Yogurt provided veterans and military personnel with a free six-ounce frozen yogurt on Veterans Day. To receive this complimentary treat, customers needed to show a valid military ID or be dressed in uniform.

Eat'n Park: Eat'n Park extended appreciation to military personnel by offering a special 10% discount for the entire month of November 2017 to all active and former United States military personnel.

Arni's: Arni's restaurant offered active duty military and veterans a free entree up to $10 value with proof of service. This offer was valid for dine-in customers only at participating locations.

Non-Restaurant Veterans Day Freebies

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers waived all day use fees at more than 2,800 recreation areas nationwide on November 11th, 2017. This waiver was available to all veterans, active and reserve component service members, and their families, providing free access to various recreational facilities.

Haircut Services: Veterans and active duty military personnel were eligible for a free haircut on Veterans Day. Additionally, non-veterans who received a haircut on Veterans Day could receive a free haircut card to give to a veteran. These haircut cards could be used through December 31st, 2017, extending the appreciation beyond the holiday itself.

GulfQuest National Maritime Museum: The GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf Mexico in Mobile offered $5 admission for all active duty service members, veterans, and their dependents on November 10th and 11th, 2017. This cultural institution made its exhibits more accessible to military families during the Veterans Day weekend.

Home Depot: Home Depot partnered with TouchNote, a postcard-sending app, to provide thousands of free postcards for people to send notes of gratitude to veterans on Veterans Day. To send a card, users needed to download the TouchNote app and enter the promo code CHOOSETOSERVE. Each user was eligible to send one free postcard to a veteran anywhere in the world.

Eligibility Requirements and Important Notes

Proof of Service: Across all participating businesses, proof of military service was required to receive Veterans Day freebies and discounts. Acceptable forms of proof typically included: - Military ID - VA ID card - Discharge papers (DD-214) - Veteran organization membership card - Uniform (in some cases) - Other documentation confirming military service

Participation Requirements: - Most restaurant offers were valid for dine-in only and not applicable to takeout or delivery orders - Some offers required a minimum purchase or purchase of a beverage - Participation varied by location, and not all franchise locations participated in these promotions - Some offers were extended to include military families, while others were limited to the service member only

Date Considerations: Since Veterans Day 2017 fell on a Saturday, many businesses and restaurants offered their promotions on Friday, November 10th, or extended them through the weekend. Some establishments chose to celebrate on the actual holiday, while others opted for adjacent dates to accommodate both weekday and weekend schedules.

Conclusion

Veterans Day 2017 provided numerous opportunities for military personnel and their families to enjoy complimentary meals, discounts, and services as a token of appreciation for their service. From restaurant chains offering free entrees to cultural institutions providing discounted admission, businesses across the United States demonstrated gratitude in various ways. While most offers required proof of military service and were limited to dine-in experiences at participating locations, the variety of options ensured that service members could find appreciation opportunities in multiple sectors. Veterans and active duty personnel were advised to contact specific locations in advance to confirm participation requirements and availability, as details varied by establishment and region.

Sources

1. 20-plus Lafayette Veterans Day restaurant freebies 2017
2. 2017 Veterans Day free meals and discounts
3. 2017 Veterans Day discounts, free meals, deals and sales
4. Veterans Day meals 2017: Freebies, discounts and other deals
5. Veterans Day 2017 free meals, discounts and deals
6. Veterans Day is the opportunity to say thank you