Memorial Day Freebies and Discounts for Military Members and Veterans in 2018

Memorial Day 2018 offered a wide array of freebies and discounts specifically for active duty military personnel, veterans, and their families. Businesses across the nation honored those who served with complimentary meals, free admission to theme parks and museums, and retail discounts. These offers spanned various categories, including food and beverage, entertainment, automotive, and household goods. While many promotions were available only on Memorial Day itself, some extended throughout the weekend or even the entire month of May. Participation varied by location, and valid military identification was almost universally required to redeem these benefits.

Food and Dining Offers

Several restaurant chains provided complimentary meals or significant discounts to military members and veterans during the Memorial Day period in 2018. These offers typically required proof of service, such as a military ID, and were often valid for dine-in customers only.

Applebee’s offered a 10% discount on meals for active, retired military service members and their families through May 31, 2018. Additionally, the chain featured the Dollarita margarita for $1 at participating locations nationwide for the entire month of May.

Home Town Buffet and Old Country Buffet provided special pricing on lunch, dinner, and kids' meals for active-duty, reserve, or retired military personnel and up to three family members on Military Monday. Valid identification was required for these offers.

Logan’s Roadhouse gave active-duty military and veterans a free American Roadhouse Meal on May 27, 2018, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at participating locations.

Outback Steakhouse provided a 20% discount for active military, veterans, police officers, and firefighters with valid state or federal identification through Memorial Day Monday.

Hooters offered a complimentary meal for active-duty military and veterans on Memorial Day at participating locations. This dine-in offer required a valid military ID and was limited to one offer per person. The allowed menu details were available on the Hooters website.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks offered a complimentary lunch or dinner on Memorial Day, May 28, to Gold Star honorees (parents and spouse), military veterans, and active members at participating locations. Dine-in was required, and military ID was necessary.

Entertainment and Recreation Discounts

Theme parks, zoos, and other recreational venues provided free admission or discounted tickets to military families during the Memorial Day weekend in 2018.

Disneyland offered specially priced theme park tickets for active duty or retired military members. The Military Promotional 3-Day or 4-Day Park Hopper ticket allowed visits to each park on each day of the ticket. These tickets could be purchased through December 2018 and were valid through December 19, 2018.

Great Wolf Lodge featured the Howling Heroes discount for active, retired, and veteran military service members, as well as fire, police, and correctional officers. This offer provided 30% off the best available rates at the Orange County location.

Knott’s Berry Farm allowed military members to save by showing their Military ID, with this discount available not just on Memorial Day but every day.

King’s Dominion offered free park admission to active or retired United States military personnel from May 26 to 28, 2018, with valid military ID. Discounted tickets were also available for dependents.

Dorney Park in Allentown provided free admission to all active and retired military personnel throughout the Memorial Day weekend.

Cincinnati Zoo gave free admission to active and retired military on Memorial Day, along with the option to purchase up to six discounted admission tickets for immediate family members.

Colonial Williamsburg offered complimentary admission once annually for active military, Reservists, National Guard personnel, retired military, veterans, and up to three direct dependents during either Memorial Day weekend or Veterans Day weekend.

Hersheypark provided an exclusive military BOGO offer when tickets were purchased online by May 31, 2018, valid through September 8.

Indianapolis Zoo offered free admission to current and former military members on Memorial Day, requiring a form of military ID to receive the discount.

Kings Island provided free tickets to active and retired members, including National Guard, reserves, and veterans, valid for a single day from May 24 through May 27, 2018.

Dorney Park also offered free admission to active and retired military personnel all weekend long.

Retail and Service Discounts

Various retailers and service providers offered discounts to military members, with some extending these benefits year-round.

Walgreens provided 20% off regular-priced merchandise on May 28, 2018.

Jo-Ann Fabric offered a 10% discount off the total purchase every day for military members.

Lowe’s home store provided a 10% every day discount for military personnel.

Ace Hardware partnered with Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to give away 1 million flags for veterans' graves on May 26, 2018.

Automotive and Fuel Offers

Nuvision Federal Credit Union hosted a Memorial Day event offering a free tank of gas to active duty and retired military members on May 28, 2018, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Exchange Express Gas Station. The offer was limited to one free tank per vehicle, with a maximum of 20 gallons, and required a valid military ID. Non-autos such as RVs, boats, and ATVs were excluded.

Additionally, Nuvision hosted a BBQ lunch for active duty and retired military on the same day at the Trails End Parking Lot.

Museum and Cultural Offers

Blue Star Museums Program kicked off on Memorial Day weekend, offering soldiers and their families free visits to more than 2,000 museums and gardens around the country for the summer.

General Availability and Participation

It is important to note that participation in these offers varied by location and establishment. Many of the discounts and freebies were available only at participating locations, and consumers were advised to verify details with local businesses. For example, Hooters specified that its offer was valid at participating locations with a valid military ID, dine-in only, and one offer per person.

Similarly, McCormick & Schmick’s noted that its complimentary meal was available at participating locations and required military ID. The chain provided further information, including the menu, on its website.

For theme parks like King’s Dominion, the offer included free admission for military personnel and discounted tickets for dependents, with details available on the park’s website.

Conclusion

Memorial Day 2018 provided numerous opportunities for active duty military members, veterans, and their families to access free meals, discounted entertainment, and retail savings. The range of offers included both single-day promotions and extended discounts, with many businesses requiring valid military identification for participation. While the specific offers detailed here were available in 2018, similar promotions often recur annually, making it beneficial for military families to monitor announcements from their favorite brands and venues each spring.