Veterans Day 2019 offered a wide array of freebies and promotional deals for U.S. military veterans and active-duty personnel. These offers spanned multiple categories, including free meals at restaurants, complimentary services like car washes and flu shots, discounted retail purchases, and free access to national parks and museums. The availability of these deals often extended beyond the holiday itself, with some promotions running throughout November or during the preceding weekend. For most participating businesses, proof of military service was a mandatory requirement to redeem an offer. Acceptable forms of verification typically included a military ID, a Veterans Administration Universal Access Card, a DD-214 discharge document, or a Veterans Service Organization card. In some cases, businesses might accept a photograph of the individual in uniform. It was consistently recommended that veterans contact their local establishment to confirm participation, as not all franchise locations honored national chain programs.
The promotions were extensive, with source data listing over 100 participating restaurants, retailers, and organizations. A significant portion of the offers focused on free food and beverages. Many national restaurant chains provided complimentary meals or specific menu items to veterans on November 11, 2019. For example, Applebee's offered a free meal from a limited menu for dine-in service on Veterans Day. Similarly, Golden Corral provided a free sit-in dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on November 11. Other notable food-related offers included a free entree up to $14.95 at BJ's, a free entree up to $12 at 54th Street Grill, and a free meal at Bob Evans, California Pizza Kitchen, and O'Charley's Restaurant. Some promotions required a beverage purchase, such as the complimentary appetizer at Yard House. Breakfast was also available for free at IHOP for active-duty and retired veterans. For a quick lunch, Little Caesars Pizza offered a free $5 Hot-N-Ready lunch combo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on November 11. Other food and beverage deals included a free Dr Pepper with an entree at BJ's, free drinks for military personnel and their families at 151 Coffee, and a 50% discount on bowls at Ahipoki locations in Arizona and California.
Beyond sit-down restaurants, free meals were available at various other venues. Golden Corral’s dinner was a major event, while Red Robin offered a free Red’s Tavern Double Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries. Mission BBQ provided a free sandwich and a slice of cake, and Grub Burger Bar offered a free meal. For those with a sweet tooth, Menchie’s and Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt gave veterans their first 6 ounces of frozen yogurt free. Carlo’s Bake Shop offered a free cannoli. A unique promotion was available at more than 70 participating HMSHost airport restaurants, where active-duty military and veterans with ID could get a complimentary Pimento Cheeseburger with dine-in service. Additionally, a free Veterans Day burger meal was available at airport locations.
The 2019 Veterans Day freebies also extended to services and experiences. A national parks free admission day was held on November 11, where veterans could receive a free, complimentary ticket for access by showing proof of service at the park. This free admission applied to sites overseen by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Army Corps of Engineers, and wildlife refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Grace for Vets program, a non-profit organization, coordinated free car washes at over 1,500 independent car washes across four countries on November 11. For health-related services, American Family Care offered veterans a free flu shot on November 11. Entertainment and cultural offers included discounted entry to the KGB Espionage Museum, where veterans paid $13 instead of the usual $22 for adults.
Retail and shopping deals were also prominent. Amazon offered active-duty personnel, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve members a chance to sign up for a year of Prime membership for $79, a $40 savings, from November 6 through 11. Academy Sports + Outdoors provided a 10% discount on the entire purchase in-store and online for veterans, active-duty service members, and their immediate family members from October 27 through November 11. Brides Across America held a wedding gown giveaway for military brides in November. To participate, qualifying brides had to register by completing a form and paying a $40 fee, then attend an event at a participating bridal salon to select a designated gown.
For consumers seeking free samples and product trials, the provided source material for Veterans Day 2019 does not contain information about ongoing mail-in sample programs or no-cost product trials in categories like beauty, baby care, pet food, or household goods. The offers documented are specifically tied to the Veterans Day holiday period and are primarily service-based (meals, car washes) or one-time discounts (retail). The information is focused on veteran-specific promotions rather than general consumer free sample programs.
Free Food and Restaurant Offers
A multitude of restaurants provided complimentary meals and items for veterans on and around November 11, 2019. The following is a partial list compiled from the source data, noting that participation could vary by location and advance confirmation was advised.
- Applebee's: Free meal from a special menu for dine-in service on November 11. Military ID required.
- BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse: Complimentary entree up to $14.95 and a free Dr Pepper for all service members with proof of service.
- Bob Evans: Free entrees for veterans and active military on November 11.
- California Pizza Kitchen: Complimentary pizza, pasta, or full-size salad and beverage from a Veterans Day menu.
- Carlo’s Bake Shop: Free cannoli with an active military ID on Veterans Day.
- Golden Corral: Free sit-in dinner for military veterans, retirees, and active-duty members from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on November 11.
- IHOP: Free breakfast for all active-duty and retired veterans on November 11.
- Little Caesars Pizza: Free $5 Hot-N-Ready lunch combo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on November 11 for veterans and active-duty military with valid ID.
- Mission BBQ: Free sandwich and slice of cake (while supplies last) for veterans and active-duty members on November 11.
- O’Charley’s Restaurant: Free meal with several menu choices for veterans and active-duty personnel on November 11.
- Red Robin: Free Red’s Tavern Double Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries for dine-in service on November 11.
- Yard House: Complimentary appetizer for veterans and active-duty military on November 11 (beverage purchase required).
- 54th Street Grill: Free entree up to $12 for veterans and active-duty military on November 11.
- Another Broken Egg Cafe: Free Patriot French Toast Combo and coffee for veterans and active-duty service members on November 11.
- Aspen Creek Grill: Complimentary meal from a special menu from 11 a.m. (specific date implied as November 11).
- Grub Burger Bar: Free meal for veterans and active military on November 11.
- Luna Grill: Complimentary meal choice when purchasing a meal for veterans and military service members from November 9-11.
- Menchie’s: First 6 ounces of frozen yogurt free for veterans and military service members on November 11.
- Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt: Free froyo for retired and active-duty military on November 11 at participating locations.
Other Services and Discounts
Several non-food related services and discounts were available for veterans in 2019.
- National Parks: Free admission for all visitors on Veterans Day, with veterans able to receive a free, complimentary ticket by presenting proof of service. This applied to fee-charging sites managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Discounts for up to four companions were also offered.
- Grace for Vets Car Wash: A free car wash for veterans and service personnel on November 11, 2019, available at over 1,500 independent car washes in four countries.
- American Family Care: Free flu shot for military veterans on November 11.
- KGB Espionage Museum: Discounted admission for veterans at $13 (regular adult price $22, senior $17) on November 11.
- HMSHost Airport Restaurants: Complimentary Pimento Cheeseburger for active-duty military and veterans with ID at over 70 participating locations on November 11.
Retail and Shopping Deals
Retailers offered percentage discounts and special membership deals.
- Academy Sports + Outdoors: 10% off entire purchase in-store and online for veterans, active-duty service members, and immediate family members from October 27 through November 11.
- Amazon: Active-duty, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve personnel could sign up for a year of Prime membership for $79 (a $40 savings) from November 6 through 11.
- Brides Across America: Wedding gown giveaway for military brides in November. Qualifying brides register by completing a form, paying a $40 fee, attending an event at a participating salon, and selecting a designated gown.
Important Considerations for Veterans
When planning to use Veterans Day offers, several key points were emphasized in the source data.
- Proof of Service: Most businesses required a valid form of military identification. Acceptable documents typically included a Military ID, Veterans Administration Universal Access Card, DD-214, Veterans Service Organization Card (e.g., from VFW, DAV, American Legion), or in some cases, a photo in uniform.
- Location Participation: Not all franchise locations of a national chain participate in Veterans Day programs. It was strongly recommended to call the specific location in advance to confirm they are honoring the offer.
- Timing: While many offers were valid on November 11, some ran for extended periods. For example, the Amazon Prime deal was available from November 6-11, and the Academy Sports discount from October 27-November 11. Some deals, like the Grace for Vets car wash, were available on a specific date.
- Dine-In vs. Take-Out: Many restaurant offers specified dine-in service only. Take-out or drive-thru may not have been included.
- Verification of Information: The source data includes a disclaimer that the sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement by the VA. Consumers were advised to verify offers directly with the organization providing them.
Conclusion
The 2019 Veterans Day period presented a broad spectrum of freebies and discounts to honor military service. The offers ranged from complimentary meals at dozens of national restaurant chains to free services such as car washes, flu shots, and national park admission, as well as retail discounts on goods and memberships. The core requirement across most promotions was proof of military service, and veterans were consistently advised to contact local participating businesses to confirm offer details and availability. While the promotions were extensive, they were specific to the Veterans Day timeframe and did not encompass general, year-round free sample programs for consumer products.