Veterans Day is a significant date in the United States, marked by various businesses expressing gratitude to active-duty military personnel and veterans through complimentary offers and discounts. While the holiday focuses on honoring service, many brands extend specific promotions available exclusively to those who have served or are currently serving. These offers typically require proof of service and are valid only on or around November 11. The following overview details the freebies and discounts available to service members based on current promotional data.
Food and Beverage Promotions
A wide array of dining establishments offer free meals and snacks to veterans and active-duty military members on Veterans Day. These range from quick-service options to full sit-down meals, often available for dine-in only, though some offer to-go alternatives.
Pizza and Fast Food Options
Little Caesars offers a free HOT-N-READY® Lunch Combo to veterans and active-duty military members on Tuesday, November 11. The offer is valid from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes four slices of Detroit-style Deep Dish pizza and a 20-ounce Pepsi beverage. This promotion aligns with the brand's longstanding tradition of supporting the military.
Krispy Kreme provides a free doughnut and small coffee to veterans and active-duty service members on November 11. While an estimated 99% of locations participate, it is recommended to call ahead as Krispy Kreme operates as a franchise and individual stores may opt out of the deal.
Casual Dining and Sit-Down Restaurants
Several casual dining chains offer complimentary meals or specific menu items. Outback Steakhouse provides free Blooming Onions and soft drinks on November 11 and 12. Additionally, veterans can enjoy a 10% discount on their entire check from November 13 through the end of the year.
Applebee’s and Chili’s both offer free meals from a select menu to veterans and active-duty service members on November 11. Applebee's provides a special menu with seven options, while Chili's offers a free meal from a select menu for in-restaurant dining only. Denny’s offers a free Build Your Own Grand Slam on November 11, available from 5 a.m. to noon for dine-in customers.
Olive Garden offers a free entrée from a special menu to veterans and current military members on November 11. Proof of military service is required. Logan’s Roadhouse offers a free meal from their Veterans Day menu on November 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for active-duty military and veterans. O’Charley’s provides a free entrée from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both November 10 and November 11, including items like Salisbury steak and shrimp scampi. Additionally, veterans receive a $5 reward card for their next visit.
California Pizza Kitchen offers a complimentary entrée and beverage to veterans and active military personnel who dine in and show proof of service on November 11. They also receive a Buy One Get One (BOGO) voucher redeemable from November 12 to 20. Red Robin offers a free Tavern Double Burger and Bottomless Steak Fries to veterans and active-duty military who are Red Robin Royalty members between November 1 and 14 for dine-in or to-go.
McCormick & Schmick’s offers a half-priced entrée from a special menu on November 7 to veterans, gold-star parents, and gold-star spouses. Yard House provides a complimentary appetizer to veterans and active-duty military on November 11. Lucille’s BBQ offers a free Lucille’s Original Pulled Pork Sandwich and one side item on November 11, requiring proof of service.
Mission BBQ provides a free sandwich to veterans on Veterans Day, inviting customers to join them at noon for the live National Anthem. Golden Corral hosts its Military Appreciation Night on November 11 from 5 p.m. IHOP offers free red, white, and blue pancakes to veterans and active-duty military on November 11. Cotton Patch Café encourages veterans to call ahead with questions regarding their Veterans Day discount.
Other Offers
Ojos Locos Sports Cantina offers 20% off all food items for veterans and active-duty military at all locations.
Retail and Grocery Offers
While most Veterans Day offers focus on dining, some retail and grocery chains provide discounts or incentives for service members.
Grocery and Online Services
Shaw’s offers a $30 discount on the first DriveUp & Go™ order when spending $75 or more. This requires using the promo code SAVE30 at checkout and is valid for first-time online grocery orders placed through the Shaw's website or mobile app. This offer does not apply to orders placed through third-party services like Instacart or UberEats.
Ticket Discounts
Northwest Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) provides discounted tickets to various events for students, which may indirectly benefit service members who are students. Tickets are available for $8 each, with a limit of six per student. Designated Family Nights offer youth tickets for $6. Specific events include: - October 25: Adult Trick or Treat - November 15: Heavy Metal Night - December 13: Family Night: Candy Cane Trail - January 31: Teddy Bear Toss - February 28: Wiener Dog Race - March 7: Family Night: Harry Potter Night - April 4: Family Night: First Responders Night
Students can purchase tickets at the Student Involvement Office (SC118) or by calling 920-498-5483. Tickets are picked up at the Resch Center Will Call on the day of the event.
Entertainment and Events
Music and Cultural Events
In San Francisco, the Dharma Collective hosts "Strings of Serenity," a concert featuring Indian classical music with Amit Gud on Sarod and Skanda Krishnan on Tabla. The event takes place at 2929 24th Street. While not explicitly a Veterans Day event, it represents a cultural offering available to the community.
Eligibility and Redemption Rules
To access Veterans Day freebies and discounts, service members must typically present valid identification. The general eligibility criteria include: - Proof of Service: Most restaurants require veterans or active-duty military members to show proof of service. Acceptable forms of identification generally include a Military ID, VA Card, or wearing a uniform. - Dine-In Restrictions: Many offers, particularly for full meals, are restricted to dine-in customers only (e.g., Denny’s, Olive Garden, Chili’s). - Participation Variance: Franchise locations, such as Krispy Kreme, may have varying participation levels. It is advisable to contact local locations in advance. - Time Restrictions: Offers are often limited to specific hours on November 11 (e.g., Little Caesars 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Denny’s 5 a.m. to noon). - Membership Requirements: Some offers, like the Red Robin promotion, require customers to be members of the brand's loyalty program (Red Robin Royalty).
Conclusion
Veterans Day 2025 sees a continuation of support from the business community, with numerous free meals, snacks, and discounts available to active-duty military personnel and veterans. The most extensive offers are concentrated in the food and beverage sector, ranging from pizza and donuts to full sit-down meals. Retail offers are less common but include significant discounts on grocery services. Service members interested in these promotions should prepare necessary proof of service and verify local participation, particularly for franchise-based businesses.