Veterans Day 2018 was observed on Sunday, November 11, with numerous businesses and organizations across the United States offering free meals, discounts, and special promotions to honor military veterans and active-duty service members. The following guide compiles verified offers available during the 2018 Veterans Day period, detailing eligibility requirements, participating brands, and specific terms of redemption.
Restaurant and Dining Freebies
A significant portion of Veterans Day promotions came from the food service industry, with many national chains offering complimentary meals or discounts to veterans and active military personnel. Most offers required proof of service, such as a military ID, VA card, or uniform, and were valid only on specific dates and at participating locations.
Major National Chains
Several prominent restaurants offered free entrees or full meals. Applebee’s provided a free full-size entree from a limited selection for veterans and active duty military on November 11, 2018. The selection included items such as a Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, 6 oz. USDA Select Top Sirloin, Chicken Tenders Platter, and Three-Cheese Chicken Penne.
Buffalo Wild Wings offered one free small order of traditional or boneless wings and a side of fries for veterans and active duty military on November 11, 2018, at participating locations for dine-in only. Chili’s provided a free meal from a special menu at participating locations. Cracker Barrel offered veterans a complimentary slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake or a Crafted Coffee (traditional espresso beverage, iced or hot) on November 11, 2018.
Denny’s offered a free "Build Your Own" Grand Slam for veterans and military personnel on November 12, 2018, from 5 AM to noon. Dunkin’ (Dunkin’ Donuts) provided a free donut to veterans and active duty military at participating restaurants nationwide on November 11, 2018. Hooters offered a free meal from a select menu with the purchase of any beverage for dine-in customers on November 11, 2018.
IHOP offered a free stack of three Red, White & Blue pancakes or a Red, White and Blue pancake combo for retired and active duty military members between 7 AM and 7 PM on November 11, 2018, at participating restaurants. Little Caesars Pizza offered a free pizza or a $5 HOT-N-READY Lunch Combo between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM on November 11, 2018. Logan’s Roadhouse provided a free entrée from a select menu at participating locations from 3 pm to 6 pm on November 11, 2018.
LongHorn Steakhouse offered veterans a free appetizer or dessert on November 11, 2018. Guests dining with veterans received an additional 10% off. Olive Garden offered a free entrée with proof of service. Red Lobster offered a free Appetizer or Dessert on November 11-12, 2018. Red Robin offered a free Tavern Double Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries at participating locations on November 11, 2018.
Additional Dining Offers
Other participating restaurants included California Pizza Kitchen, which offered a complimentary entrée from a special Veterans Day menu at participating locations for veterans and active duty military on November 11, 2018. Chipotle offered a buy-one-get-one deal on a burrito, bowl, salad, or order of tacos for active and retired military personnel from open to close on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, 2018.
Fogo de Chao offered 50% off for veterans and active military from November 9 to 11, 2018. Up to three guests also received 10% off their meals. Romano’s Macaroni Grill offered a free order of Mom’s Ricotta Meatballs and Spaghetti for all veterans and active military on November 11, 2018, at all U.S. locations. Starbucks offered veterans, active duty service members, and their spouses one 12-ounce hot coffee on November 11, 2018, at participating stores, with a limit of one per customer.
Other listed offers included free meals or discounts at locations such as Firebird's Grill, Golden Corral, Hoss’s Family Steak & Sea House, K&W Cafeteria, Kings Family Restaurant, Chevys Fresh Mex, The Chop House, Connor's Steakhouse, Cotton Patch Café, El Torito & El Torito Grill, Famous Dave’s, Friendly’s, Grub Burger Bar, Hy-Vee, Max & Erma’s, McCormick & Schmick’s, Menchie’s, Nékter Juice Bar, On the Border, Primanti Bros., Rib Crib, Ruby Tuesday's, Sagebrush Steakhouse, and Texas de Brazil. Specific terms, dates, and participation varied by location.
Buffet and Special Event Offers
Golden Corral hosted its 18th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner on November 12, 2018, from 5 PM to 9 PM. The dinner was available to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. Furr's Fresh Buffet offered a free meal and non-bottled beverage on Monday, November 12, 2018, for veterans, active, retired, and reserve military at participating locations, while supplies last.
Boston Market offered a buy-one-get-one deal for military families, allowing them to buy one individual meal and drink and get a second meal for free. This deal was valid November 11-12, 2018, at U.S. locations, and the necessary coupon was available on BostonMarket.com.
Non-Food Discounts and Freebies
Beyond restaurants, other businesses offered Veterans Day discounts and freebies.
Automotive and Personal Care
Great Clips offered a free hair cut for military and veterans. Non-veterans could get a coupon to give to a veteran. Sports Clips offered a free hair cut at participating locations. GraceforVets.org provided a list of participating car washes offering free car washes.
Travel and Lodging
Westgate Resorts offered a free resort stay, limited to the first 1,500 applicants. Registration was required on November 9, 2018, at 9:00 am EST. In a separate promotion, Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key, Florida, offered a Veterans Day vacation giveaway in collaboration with MilitaryBridge. The contest, which ran from November 2 to 30, 2018, was for a 4-night stay for a family of 4, including hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, and a Dolphin Connection experience.
Retail and Consumer Goods
Nixplay and MilitaryBridge partnered for a giveaway of three Nixplay Seed 10” Black frames to three lucky military members, including active duty, guard, reserve, veterans, and/or military families. Brides Across America, a non-profit organization, provided eligible military brides with a free wedding dress, with registration required.
Digital and Other Offers
A free Kindle book, Operation Money: A Financial Guide for Military Service Members and Families by Jean Chatzky, was available for download. Black Angus Steakhouse offered a $9.99 steak special (8-oz Certified Angus Beef Top Sirloin, mashed potatoes, broccoli with garlic butter, and a non-alcoholic beverage) on November 12, 2018. Backyard Burgers offered a free Classic Burger on November 11, 2017, to all active duty service members and veterans. (Note: The year 2017 appears to be a typo in the source, as the context is the 2018 Veterans Day list.)
Eligibility and Redemption Requirements
Most offers were explicitly for veterans and active-duty military members. Some promotions, such as the Great Clips coupon for non-veterans, were designed to be shared. Proof of service was universally required for in-person redemption. Acceptable forms of identification typically included a military ID, VA card, or wearing a uniform. For online or mail-in offers, registration or specific sign-up procedures were necessary.
For example, the Westgate Resorts free stay required advance registration on a specific date and time. The Hawks Cay Resort giveaway required entering a contest during a specified window. The Nixplay giveaway was a promotional partnership with a specific military-focused website. Brides Across America required registration for the free wedding dress.
Geographic Considerations
While many offers were valid at participating locations nationwide, some were limited to specific regions or chains with a presence in certain areas. The query specified "Cape Coral, FL." The provided source data does not contain specific information about offers exclusive to Cape Coral, Florida. The listings are for national or broad regional promotions. Consumers in Cape Coral, Florida, would need to verify participation with local outlets of the listed chains (e.g., Applebee's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Golden Corral) and check for any additional local promotions not captured in the national lists.
Conclusion
Veterans Day 2018 featured a wide array of freebies and discounts from restaurants, retailers, and service providers across the United States. The offers ranged from complimentary meals and haircuts to discounted lodging and consumer products. Eligibility was generally limited to U.S. veterans and active-duty military personnel, with proof of service required for most in-person offers. While the provided data does not list Cape Coral, Florida-specific offers, the national promotions from major chains would likely be available at participating locations in that area, contingent on local store participation. Consumers should always confirm offer details, participation, and required documentation directly with the individual business prior to visiting.