Offers and free meals for veterans

© Charles Krupa / AP
On Veterans Day, a number of restaurants and businesses are offering free and discounted experiences to veterans and serving members.

Veterans Day will be celebrated a little differently this year, but there are still gifts and offerings galore for U.S. veterans and serving military personnel.

Due to the pandemic, many of these restaurant and business deals are good both in-store and online – although it’s best to call ahead to make sure. Most of these agreements are valid for veterans and serving military personnel with proof of service.

Here is a sample of some of the best Veterans Day offers this year.

Restaurants

Applebee: Free meal with proof of service. Offer only valid for dinner, and drinks and tips are not included.

BJ’s Restaurants: Free entry up to $ 14.95 – plus a free Dr. Pepper – with proof of service. The offer also extends to take-away meals with the code “VETERAN”.

California Pizza Kitchen: Free entry and drink from a list of pre-selected options. The offer is available for dinner on site and for take out.

Chile: Free meal from a list of pre-selected options, dinner on site only.

Denny’s: Free breakfast “Build your Grand Slam” The offer is only available for dinner from 5 am to 12 noon

Dunkin ‘: Free donut. Dunkin ‘also donated $ 10,000 to A Million Thanks, a non-profit organization that sends letters of thanks and encouragement to the military.

Menchie’s: Free 6 ounces of frozen yogurt.

Starbucks: Free Hot Hot Coffee – and this offer also extends to military spouses. The company will also donate 25 cents for every hot coffee sold that day to causes that support military mental health.

Companies and experiences

Car washes: More than 1,600 car wash operators across the United States are giving free Veterans Day washes. You can find one near you through Grace for Veterans, which compiles the participating companies.

Haircuts: Sports Clips offers free haircuts Wednesday to veterinarians and serving military. At Great Clips, veterans and serving members alike can get a free haircut or get an “IOU” card to use at a later date this year. Non-military clients can have their hair cut and give a free haircut card to a member they know.

National park service: As of Veterans Day 2020, military veterans and Gold Star families will have free access to over 2,000 federal lands, including national parks and monuments.

Zoos: Zoos across the United States including the Tampa Zoo and Miami Zoo in Florida, the Atlanta Zoo in Georgia, the Cincinnati and Columbus Zoos in Ohio, the Omaha Zoo in the Nebraska and the Point Defiance Zoo in Washington, admit veterans and serving military personnel free of charge. Some offers also extend to military spouses and family members.