2018 Veterans Day Freebies and Discounts: A Guide to Food, Retail, and Special Offers

The provided source material contains detailed information about Veterans Day freebies and discounts available in 2018, primarily focused on food and dining offers. The data is sourced from multiple news and deal websites that compiled lists from brand announcements and promotional materials. The offers listed are for Veterans Day 2018 (Sunday, November 11, and Monday, November 12, 2018, in most cases) and are typically available to active duty military personnel, veterans, and in some cases, retirees and reserve members. A common requirement across most offers is proof of service, which may include a military ID, veteran ID, or other official documentation. Some offers extended beyond Veterans Day, running for several days or the entire month of November. The information is specific to the year 2018 and should not be assumed to be current. All factual claims in this article are derived exclusively from the provided source chunks.

Food and Dining Freebies

A significant portion of the available freebies in 2018 were offered by restaurant chains, providing free meals, entrees, appetizers, or desserts to those who served.

Free Meals and Entrees

Many national chains offered complimentary entrees or full meals on Veterans Day. For example, Applebee's provided a choice of one of eight entrees for free, requiring a military ID or proof of service. Bob Evans offered free select breakfast, lunch, and dinner items with proper identification. Olive Garden provided a free entree from a special menu, served with unlimited soup or house salad and garlic breadsticks, for veterans and active duty military with proof of service.

Other notable free meal offers included: - BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse: Veterans received a free entree up to a $12.95 value, plus a free Dr. Pepper beverage. An additional offer for a free Pizookie® was available for current or retired military from November 1 through November 30, 2018, while supplies lasted. - Golden Corral: A free "Thank you" dinner was available for any active or former US military members on Monday, November 12, 2018, from 5 PM to 9 PM. - Denny's: Veterans and military personnel received a free "Build Your Own" Grand Slam on November 12, 2018, from 5 AM to noon. - Furr's Fresh Buffet: A free meal and non-bottled beverage was offered on Monday, November 12, 2018, for veterans, active, retired, and reserve military at participating locations, while supplies last.

Some offers were for specific types of meals or required a purchase. For instance, Boston Market offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal on individual meals with a drink from November 11 to November 12, 2018, which required a coupon but no ID. Chipotle offered a buy-one-get-one deal on burritos, bowls, salads, or tacos for active and retired military personnel on Veterans Day.

Appetizers, Sides, and Desserts

Several restaurants provided free appetizers, sides, or desserts instead of full meals. Outback Steakhouse offered a free Bloomin’ Onion and a non-alcoholic beverage on Veterans Day for military personnel and veterans with ID. Red Lobster provided a free appetizer or dessert with military ID or proof of service, with vets choosing from a select list. Ruby Tuesday’s offered a free appetizer (up to $10) at participating locations on Veterans Day, with proof of service required.

Dessert and snack offers included: - Dunkin': A free donut for veterans and active duty military on November 11, 2018, at participating locations nationwide. - Cracker Barrel: On November 11, 2018, veterans could get a free Crafted Coffee, a traditional espresso beverage (iced or hot), or a slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake. - IHOP: A free stack of three Red, White & Blue pancakes or a pancake combo was available for retired and active duty military members between 7 AM and 7 PM at participating restaurants on Veterans Day.

Breakfast and Coffee Offers

Breakfast and coffee were also popular categories for freebies. Baker's Square offered a free breakfast on Sunday, November 11, 2018, for active duty military and veterans, allowing a choice from three Buttermilk Pancakes, three slices of French Toast, or one Belgian Waffle. Pilot Flying J provided a free breakfast from November 10 to 12, 2018, including a free Pilot Coffee of any size with a choice of a PJ Fresh breakfast sandwich, packaged pastry item, or a Cinnabon Center of the Roll. Bruegger’s Bagels offered a free cup (any size) of coffee to vets and active military on Veterans Day.

Other Food-Related Freebies and Discounts

Sheetz: Free lunch on Veterans Day at participating locations.
Bubba’s 33: Free lunch for veterans on Sunday, November 11, until 4 PM.
Buffalo Wild Wings: A free order of traditional or boneless wings and a side of fries for veterans and active duty military on Veterans Day.
California Pizza Kitchen: A free entree from a special Veterans Day menu for veterans or active duty military personnel on Veterans Day.
Cattlemens Steakhouse: A complimentary 8 oz steak dinner for active, inactive, and retired military personnel on Veterans Day.
Back Yard Burgers: A free 'Classic Burger' for military veterans with valid ID and active duty servicemembers in uniform on Veterans Day.
Bar Louie: A free Flatbread or Burger (up to $15 value) for veterans with ID on Veterans Day.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill: A free Mom’s Ricotta Meatballs & Spaghetti entree for current and former military with ID on Veterans Day.
The Chop House and Connors Steak & Seafood: 50% off any dine-in lunch or dinner entree for veterans with military ID or in uniform on November 11 and 12, 2018.
Famous Dave’s: A free two-meat Combo for all former and current military personnel on November 11 and 12, 2018.
Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que: A free meal for veterans on Veterans Day (details in source).
Fogo de Chao: 50% off for veterans and active military from November 9 to 11, 2018.

Retail and Service Discounts

While the provided data is heavily skewed toward food offers, there are also mentions of discounts and freebies in other retail and service categories.

Retail Discounts

Eat’n Park: All active and former United States military personnel received a special 10% discount for the entire month of November 2018.
Huddle House: A free order of Sweet Cakes for all active military members and veterans with proper I.D. from November 9-12, 2018.
Shane’s Rib Shack: Military personnel and Veterans received a complimentary sandwich, regular side, and 20-oz beverage at participating locations from November 8 through November 10, 2018.
Outback Steakhouse: In addition to the free Bloomin’ Onion, a 10% OFF Heroes Discount was open to servicemen and women, police officers, firefighters, and first responders, with corresponding state or federal service ID through December 31, 2018.

Giveaways and Special Promotions

The sources also mention specific giveaways and special promotions for the military community in 2018. - Hawks Cay Resort Giveaway: In collaboration with MilitaryBridge, Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key, Florida, offered a Florida Keys vacation giveaway for military families. The prize included a 4-night stay for a family of 4, daily breakfast, and a Dolphin Connection experience. The contest ran from November 2 to 30, 2018. - Nixplay & MilitaryBridge Giveaway: Nixplay, in partnership with MilitaryBridge, gave away three Nixplay Seed 10" Black frames to three lucky military members (active duty, guard, reserve, veterans, and/or military families) in November 2018.

Key Considerations for Claiming Offers

Based on the provided information, several common requirements and recommendations are highlighted for those seeking to claim Veterans Day freebies and discounts.

Proof of Service

The most consistent requirement across the offers is proof of service. This is typically a valid military ID, veteran ID, or other official documentation. Some offers specify that being in uniform is also acceptable. A few offers, such as the Boston Market BOGO deal, only required a coupon and not an ID. It is always recommended to call ahead to confirm local participation and specific requirements.

Timing and Availability

Most offers were valid specifically on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, 2018. However, several extended into the following day, Monday, November 12, 2018, or even for a longer period. For example, the Golden Corral free dinner was on November 12, and the BJ’s Pizookie® offer ran through the end of November. Some offers, like those at Shane’s Rib Shack and Huddle House, started a few days before Veterans Day. The sources emphasize that many offers are "while supplies last" and are available at participating locations only, so checking with the local establishment is crucial.

Eligibility

The offers were generally for: - Active duty military personnel - Veterans - In some cases, retirees and reserve members - Some promotions, like the Hawks Cay Resort giveaway, were specifically for military families.

The sources do not provide information on eligibility for free samples, no-cost product trials, or mail-in sample programs for beauty, baby care, pet products, or household goods in the context of Veterans Day 2018. The available data is exclusively focused on food and dining offers, retail discounts, and a couple of specific giveaways.

Conclusion

The provided source material details a wide array of Veterans Day freebies and discounts available in 2018, predominantly from the food service industry. Dozens of national and regional restaurant chains offered free meals, entrees, appetizers, and desserts to active duty military and veterans, with proof of service as a common requirement. Additional discounts were available at retail establishments like Eat’n Park, and special giveaways were offered by Hawks Cay Resort and Nixplay in partnership with MilitaryBridge. The information is specific to the 2018 Veterans Day period and should be used as a historical reference rather than a current guide. Consumers interested in similar offers for future years should consult official brand websites and verified promotional materials, as details and participating brands change annually.