Memorial Day weekend in the United States is a significant time for honoring the nation's fallen service members, and many brands extend special recognition to active duty military personnel, veterans, and their families through complimentary products, discounted services, and exclusive access programs. This article compiles and explains the verified freebies, discounts, and special offers available for the military community during the Memorial Day 2025 period, based on information from promotional announcements, brand websites, and deal aggregators. The focus is on providing clear, actionable information for U.S. consumers, with an emphasis on eligibility verification, redemption processes, and the categories of goods and services involved.
The offers detailed below are sourced from published information for the 2025 Memorial Day period. It is critical for consumers to understand that participation, terms, and availability can vary by location, and verification of military status is almost always required. Always check the official brand or retailer website for the most current details before attempting to redeem an offer.
Memorial Day 2025: Verified Military Discounts and Freebies
Memorial Day 2025 promotions for the military community span a wide range of categories, including food and beverage, retail apparel, outdoor and sporting goods, home improvement, entertainment, and household goods. The following sections break down these offers by category, detailing what is available, how to access it, and any specific eligibility rules.
Food and Beverage Offers
A significant portion of Memorial Day military recognition comes in the form of free meals, discounted dining, and special food product deals. These offers typically require proof of service, such as a valid military ID, and are often available only on Memorial Day itself, though some extend for the weekend or longer.
Free Meals and Dining Discounts: * Mission BBQ: As part of Military Appreciation Month, Mission BBQ designates specific days for each branch of the military to receive a free sandwich. For 2025, the schedule is as follows: Army (May 12), Marine Corps (May 13), Navy (May 14), Air Force and Space Force (May 15), Coast Guard (May 16), and all branches (May 17). This offer is for active-duty service members and veterans, with one offer per valid identification. * Joe’s Crab Shack: Active military personnel can receive a 15% discount on their bill on Memorial Day. * Bonefish Grill: A 10% discount is available for active-duty service members and veterans every day, including the Memorial Day period. * Applebee’s: Participating locations offer active, retired military service members and their families a 10% discount on their bill. * Texas de Brazil: A 10% discount is available for military, service members, EMS personnel, and teachers for up to four people per table. * GrillSmith: On May 17, 2025, GrillSmith offers a complimentary appetizer (valued at $22 or less) to all active, non-active, and retired military service members with a valid military ID.
Retail Food and Snack Deals: * 7-Eleven: For Memorial Day 2025, 7-Eleven offers a $2 snack deal starting May 19, featuring items like Clif Bars, Rice Krispie Treats Big Bars, and Quest Protein Cookies. Loyalty members can access a $4 meal deal with a value grill item, 7-Select chips, and a Big Gulp drink, or a $5 meal with two grill items or one Big Bite Hot Dog. Additionally, Veterans Advantage members can get a free coffee or Big Gulp on Memorial Day by linking their 7Rewards and Veterans Advantage accounts. * Weis Markets: This grocery chain provides a 10% discount on groceries every Thursday for Active Duty, Reserve, Retired, and Military Veterans.
Retail and Apparel Discounts
Numerous apparel and retail brands offer percentage-based discounts to the military community, often year-round but sometimes with enhanced promotions for Memorial Day. These discounts typically require verification through a program like Veterans Advantage, GovX, or direct military ID presentation.
Clothing and Footwear: * Under Armour: Offers a limited-time 20% discount on UA.com or at UA Brand House stores for the military. * Levi’s: Provides a 15% discount on all Levi’s apparel. * Adidas, Reebok, Converse, Crocs, and HeyDude: These brands are listed among retailers offering exclusive military discounts for Memorial Day 2025. * Kipling: Military members receive an extra 15% off sitewide and 10% off in Outlet Stores for a limited time. * Vineyard Vines: Offers a 15% discount on almost everything for military members and veterans. * Maurices: Provides a 10% discount online and in-store to Active Duty, Retiree Veteran, Reserve, National Guard, and Dependents. * L.L. Bean: Offers a special 10% discount for past and current service members. * Kohls: Provides a 15% OFF discount for Military, Veterans, and their families every Monday for Military Mondays (in-store only).
Accessories and Specialty Retail: * Yankee Candle: Offers a 10% discount for active and retired military, as well as family members. * Spyderco: Military members can receive a 50% discount through the Spyderco OpFocus program, though some exclusions apply. * LensCrafters: Provides 20% off frames for veterans and active military. * Cabela’s: Offers a 10% discount every day on qualifying merchandise for Military Law Enforcement, Firefighters, and Wildlife Agents. * Glik’s: Provides a 10% discount with a valid military ID.
Home, Outdoor, and Sporting Goods
Home improvement stores, outdoor recreation retailers, and sporting goods brands frequently participate in Memorial Day military discounts, which can be particularly valuable for larger purchases.
- Lowe’s: Active duty Military and Veterans receive a 10% discount.
- Academy Sports + Outdoors: Listed as offering exclusive military discounts for Memorial Day 2025.
- Discount Tire: Active Duty, Veterans, and Reserves can receive 5% off their purchase.
- Stanley: Offered as one of the brands with exclusive military discounts for Memorial Day 2025.
Entertainment and Travel
Memorial Day is a popular time for travel and leisure activities, and several entertainment venues offer free or heavily discounted access for military personnel and their families.
- Theme Parks and Zoos:
- Busch Gardens: Offers complimentary one-day admission to U.S. military veterans and up to three guests. Veterans must register for the offer through May 11, 2025, and can use the tickets until July 6.
- Carowinds: Provides free admission to military members (with valid US Military ID) during Memorial Day Weekend (May 23-26). They can also purchase up to six additional tickets at 50% off for family and friends online.
- Cedar Point: Offers discounted tickets for Military Appreciation Days from May 23-26.
- California’s Great America: Active-duty military personnel and veterans receive free admission from May 23-26, 2025, and may purchase up to six discounted tickets for friends and family (available online only, following verification).
- Zoos: The Cincinnati Zoo and Indianapolis Zoo (and potentially others) offer free admission to active or retired military and their families on Memorial Day, July 4th, and Veterans Day.
- Museums: The Blue Star Museums program, which provides free admission to military families, begins on Armed Forces Day (May 17) and ends on Labor Day (September 1).
- Sports and Streaming: MLB.TV, in partnership with GovX, offers active-duty military and veterans a discount of up to 35% off.
Electronics, Appliances, and Services
Discounts on technology and home services are also part of the Memorial Day military recognition landscape.
- Samsung: Listed as offering exclusive military discounts for Memorial Day 2025.
- Dell: Offers 5% OFF for Military during May.
- Sleep Number: Listed as offering exclusive military discounts for Memorial Day 2025.
Wireless and Telecommunication Services
Major wireless carriers offer significant ongoing discounts for military members, which are highlighted during promotional periods like Memorial Day.
- T-Mobile: Advertises one of the biggest discounts—40% off family lines for military personnel.
- Verizon: Offers MyPlan starting from $25/month, with an additional 12% off all mobile perks for those eligible for the military discount.
Health and Beauty
While specific beauty or health sample programs for Memorial Day are not detailed in the provided source data, several retailers in these categories offer military discounts that can be applied to products.
- CVS: Offers a 20% online discount for military members who are signed up for the Veterans Advantage Card.
- Michaels: Provides 15% off, including sale items, with a valid military ID (some exclusions apply).
Understanding Eligibility and Verification
A common thread across nearly all these offers is the requirement for verification of military status. This is typically done in one of several ways:
- Military ID: A valid, current U.S. Military ID is the most straightforward form of verification for in-person offers.
- Veterans Advantage Program: Many retailers, including 7-Eleven and CVS, partner with the Veterans Advantage program. Customers must sign up for and link their Veterans Advantage account to the retailer's loyalty program to access specific discounts.
- GovX Verification: Some online offers, like those from MLB.TV, use the GovX ID verification system for active-duty and veteran status.
- Direct Sign-Up or Registration: Certain offers, like the Busch Gardens free admission, require veterans to register online in advance using a verification system.
It is important to note that the term "military" in these offers often encompasses active duty, reserves, National Guard, veterans, and retired service members. Some offers also extend to spouses and dependents, but this varies by retailer and should be confirmed on a case-by-case basis.
How to Access and Redeem Offers
To successfully take advantage of Memorial Day military freebies and discounts, consumers should follow a general process:
- Plan Ahead: Many offers, especially free admission to parks or require pre-registration (e.g., Busch Gardens), have deadlines that fall before Memorial Day itself. Check dates carefully.
- Verify Official Channels: Always rely on the brand’s official website or verified promotional landing pages for terms and conditions. Third-party deal blogs may have outdated or inaccurate information.
- Prepare Documentation: Have your military ID, Veterans Advantage membership details, or GovX ID ready, whether shopping in-store or online.
- Check for Exclusions: Many discounts exclude certain items, brands, or sale-priced merchandise. Read the fine print.
- Contact Locations Directly: For restaurant and retail discounts, participation can vary by location. It is advisable to call your nearest store or restaurant to confirm they are honoring the offer before visiting.
Conclusion
Memorial Day 2025 presents a wide array of opportunities for military members, veterans, and their families to access free products, discounted services, and special experiences. The offers span categories from daily essentials like groceries and snacks to significant savings on apparel, home goods, entertainment, and travel. The key to leveraging these opportunities lies in understanding the eligibility requirements, which almost always involve verification of military status through an ID, a dedicated program like Veterans Advantage, or a pre-registration process. By consulting official brand sources and planning ahead, eligible consumers can effectively honor and benefit from the recognition extended by numerous U.S. brands during this important holiday period.