The 2019 Veterans Day weekend offered a wide array of complimentary offers, discounts, and special promotions to honor active-duty military members, veterans, and their families. These opportunities spanned categories including food and beverage, retail, travel, and health services, with many available on Saturday, November 9, 2019, in addition to the traditional Monday, November 11 observance. This article details the verified offers available that weekend, focusing on the specific terms, eligibility requirements, and participation rules as documented in the source materials.
It is important to note that all information presented is based on promotional materials and listings published in 2019. These offers are no longer active, and this article serves as a historical reference for the types of promotions that were available during that specific time period. The source materials consistently emphasize that participation can vary by location, particularly for franchise-based restaurants and retailers, and that proof of military service is typically required.
Food and Beverage Offers for November 9, 2019
Many national restaurant chains extended their Veterans Day recognition to the preceding Saturday, November 9, 2019. These offers were generally available for dine-in service only and required verification of military status.
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar announced its annual Veterans Day meal program. According to the source, on Veterans Day, Applebee’s serves a free meal to active-duty and veteran military service members. While the primary offer was for November 11, the source notes that some deals are valid the day before Veterans Day. The offer provided a complimentary entree up to a specified value. It was critical for patrons to call their local franchise beforehand, as participation was not guaranteed at all locations. The source material did not specify the exact value of the entree for the 2019 promotion but indicated it was up to $14.95.
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse offered a complimentary entree up to $14.95 plus a free Dr Pepper beverage to all military members who dined in at any of its nationwide locations. This offer was valid on Veterans Day, November 11, 2019. The source material did not explicitly state whether this offer was available on Saturday, November 9, but it was listed among the Veterans Day deals. As with other chain restaurants, participation could vary by location, and it was recommended to call ahead.
Yard House provided a complimentary appetizer to veterans and active-duty military personnel on November 11, 2019. The source specified that a beverage purchase was required to receive the free appetizer. The terms for Saturday, November 9, were not detailed in the provided materials.
The source materials also contained a general note applicable to all restaurant offers: unless otherwise specified, Veterans Day deals were valid on November 11 only, and beverage and gratuity were not included with free meal offers. For offers available on Saturday, November 9, the same requirement for proof of military service applied, which could include a Veterans Administration Universal Access Card, Military I.D., DD-214 (discharge papers), or a Veterans Service Organization Card.
Retail and Product Discounts for the Veterans Day Weekend
Retail promotions for the 2019 Veterans Day weekend included a mix of percentage discounts, special pricing on products, and charitable tie-ins. Several brands offered increased military discounts specifically for the holiday period.
Tervis Tumbler partnered with MilitaryBridge for a special Veterans Day offer. Active-duty military, veterans, and their families received 50% off an American Flag Laser Engraved tumbler in red, blue, or olive. This offer was valid from November 9 through November 11, 2019, both in Official Tervis Retail Stores and on Tervis.com. The discount could not be applied to previous purchases, combined with other offers, or used on wholesale or corporate orders. Additionally, a giveaway was active from November 6 to 30, 2019, offering a chance to win a $50 gift card to Tervis.com, with the giveaway closing on November 11, 2019.
Under Armour was noted for offering an increased military discount of 20% off in honor of Veterans Day. The source material did not specify the exact dates for this increased discount, but it was listed under Veterans Day promotions.
Armitron Watches increased its everyday military discount from 10% to 30% off for Veterans Day. This special discount was available from November 9 to November 12, 2019, and included free ground shipping when using the promo code: VETS.
Tuft & Needle, an online mattress company, offered a special Veterans Day savings of $175 off their popular mattresses. This offer was available through November 11, 2019.
Tommy Hilfiger maintained a 15% military discount program for Active Duty, Veterans, Retirees, National Guard, Reserve members, and their spouses, valid both on Veterans Day and every day.
Buckle offered a 10% military discount program, valid on Veterans Day and every day, to show support for the military community.
Academy Sports + Outdoors provided a 10% discount off the entire purchase for veterans, active-duty service members, and their immediate family members. This discount was valid both in-store and online from October 27 through November 11, 2019.
Amazon offered a promotion for active-duty, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve personnel to sign up for a year of Prime membership for $79, representing a $40 savings. This promotion was valid from November 6 through November 11, 2019, and was available to both new and existing Prime members.
maurices ran a charitable campaign from November 1 through November 11, 2019. For every gift card purchased by military supporters during that period, maurices donated $1 to Blue Star Families.
Travel, Recreation, and Health Services
The Veterans Day weekend also included numerous offers for travel, recreation, and health services, many of which were available on Saturday, November 9.
National Parks and Federal Lands offered free admission to everyone on Veterans Day, November 11, 2019. This included all national parks, memorials, and historic sites, such as Mt. Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty. The source material also noted that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would waive day use fees at its recreation areas nationwide on November 11. While the primary free admission day was Monday, the source did not specify if any federal lands offered free admission on Saturday, November 9.
9/11 Memorial and Museum offered free museum admission to veterans from November 8 to November 14, 2019. Additionally, veterans could purchase half-price museum tickets for up to two family members during the same period.
Aquarium of the Pacific provided free admission to veterans and military personnel on November 11, 2019.
B&Bs for Vets program featured innkeepers who offered a minimum of one room for one night, completely free, to veterans. This program was part of the 2019 Veterans Day observances.
American Family Care offered a free flu shot to military veterans on November 11, 2019.
Smile Doctors Braces offered a 10% military discount and had different specials available on braces or Invisalign. The source material did not specify the exact dates for these specials, but they were listed under Veterans Day promotions.
Giveaways and Special Promotions
Several brands ran special giveaways and promotions in conjunction with Veterans Day 2019.
TaylorMade offered a giveaway for the latest M5 Driver, with entries accepted from November 6 to November 30, 2019. Entrants could enter daily for a chance to win. The source also mentioned an everyday TaylorMade Military Discount, though specific details were not provided in the chunks.
Myprotein partnered with MilitaryBridge for a Veterans Day and Military Family Appreciation Month promotion. Myprotein was giving away two special gift bundles featuring their new military packaged protein powder and a $150 gift code. The giveaway ran from November 8 to November 30, 2019, with winners selected on December 1, 2019.
Tervis Tumbler also had a giveaway for a $50 gift card, open from November 6 until November 11, 2019, at 11:59 PM EST.
Important Considerations for Veterans and Military Personnel
The source materials consistently highlighted several critical points for anyone seeking to take advantage of these 2019 Veterans Day offers.
Proof of Service: Most businesses required proof of military service. Acceptable forms of identification included a Veterans Administration Universal Access Card, Military I.D., DD-214 (discharge papers), or a Veterans Service Organization Card (from groups like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, or the American Legion). In some cases, businesses would accept a picture of the veteran in uniform. It was recommended to have proper identification ready, especially if not in uniform.
Location Variability: Participation in national chain promotions could vary by location, particularly for franchise-based restaurants and retailers. The sources strongly recommended calling ahead to verify that a specific local establishment was participating in the Veterans Day program. This was especially important for restaurants, as those that accepted reservations often booked up very quickly.
Offer Validity Dates: While many offers were specifically for Veterans Day (November 11), others were valid for a period surrounding the holiday, such as the weekend of November 9-10 or the week from November 8-14. The source materials provided a comprehensive list, but consumers were advised to read the offer details carefully to note the exact dates of validity.
Charitable Initiatives: Beyond direct discounts, some promotions supported military families through charitable donations. For example, maurices' gift card purchase initiative supported Blue Star Families, and B&Bs for Vets provided free lodging to veterans.
Conclusion
The 2019 Veterans Day weekend provided a diverse array of freebies and deals across multiple categories. From complimentary meals at restaurants like Applebee’s and BJ’s to significant retail discounts from brands such as Tervis Tumbler, Armitron Watches, and Academy Sports + Outdoors, the promotions were designed to honor service members. Travel and recreation benefits, including free national park admission and museum discounts, further extended the recognition. Key to successfully accessing these offers was understanding the specific terms, including required proof of military service, the importance of verifying participation with local franchise locations, and noting the precise dates each promotion was valid. The listed giveaways from TaylorMade, Myprotein, and Tervis Tumbler also provided additional opportunities for veterans and their families.