Hey Vets- Get Yer Free Stuff Here!

I like to think I'm fairly well read. I'll read anything- cereal boxes, nutrition labels, the fine print, etc., and the newspaper too. A joke I make of myself is that I read a little bit of everything, but not a lot of anything and that just makes me know a little bit of everything, and not much of anything. What I do know is that I like current events and good deals. My household has always subscribed to the local paper, even when I was a kid, and the Sunday paper was full of great stuff like games and comics. Now it's still full (ok, a little less full these days) of great stuff- Real Estate ads (yes, San Diego is still an insane market): Opinions and Editorials (best way to get multiple sides of an issue); Mutual Fund prices (I'm so thankful for my Navy retirement); Click and Clack (those guys are hilarious!); and I could keep going.

On my way to the comics which I still read daily, I find the Jumble on the same page as Dear Abby. I usually don't read her column, but as I was trying to solve what word T A R G E Y was unscrambled, I scanned the page and came across the column's headline "Offering thanks to vets isn't always welcome."  The writer was troubled by two responses she received after thanking some vets for their service.  One told her she "should be thankful for ALL military personnel — not just him — and especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives." And the second: “Didn’t have a choice — it was the draft or jail.”  Both of those are ungracious and possibly rude comments, but I doubt they are reflective of how the majority of Vets would answer.  I tend to just say "It was my pleasure."  I'll usually offer my own thanks to Vets as well when one is easily identifiable from either the ball caps or tattoos they wear.

Remember how I mentioned I like a good deal?  I also read, uhh- cut the coupons from the Sunday paper inserts.  If you don't, you're leaving money on the table.  Combine a discount with a nice "Thank You" for our service and you get a whole bunch of good deals from retailers out there who appreciate our time in uniform, especially on Veteran's Day.  You won't need a coupon, but be sure to bring some sort of proof of your Vet or Active Duty status to get these deals:

 Veterans Day: Discounts and Freebies 

Restaurant Offerings:

Applebees - Veterans and active duty military receive a free meal from a limited menu, on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11. 

Bar Louie – On Sunday, Nov. 10 and Monday, Nov. 11, all Bar Louie locations are offering veterans and military personnel a free meal up to a $12 value. 

California Pizza Kitchen – Veterans and active military receive a free pizza on Monday, Nov. 11.

Champps -- On Monday, Nov. 11, Champps will offer a free handcrafted burger with waffle fries to veterans and active duty military.

Charlie Brown's Steakhouse – Charlie Brown’s is offering a free meal to veterans and active duty military all day on Monday, Nov. 11.

Cheeseburger in Paradise – Veterans and military personnel receive a free All American Burger with fries on Monday, Nov. 11 with the beverage purchase of $1.99.

Chili's – Veterans and active duty can get a free entrée all day from a special limited menu on Monday, Nov. 11.

Denny’s -- Active, inactive and retired military personnel can get free all you can eat pancakes on Veterans Day nationwide.

FATZ – Veterans and active duty military can enjoy a free entrée at FATZ, up to a $15 value. Veterans who dine at FATZ on November 11 will also receive a $2 coupon for use on their next visit.

Friendly’s – Veterans and active military receive a free Big Two Do Breakfast and coffee on Monday, Nov. 11.

Golden Corral – Golden Corral is offering a free dinner on Monday Nov. 11, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Military retirees, veterans, active duty, National Guard and Reserves are all welcome.

Hooters –Veterans and active duty military receive a free meal on Monday, Nov. 11.

Hoss’s Family Steak & Sea House – Veterans eat for free on Monday, Nov. 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Krispy Kreme – Krispy Kreme stores are offering a free doughnut and small coffee on Monday, Nov. 11 when presenting a military ID or wearing a uniform. 

Little Caesars – Veterans and active military members get a free order of Crazy Bread on Monday, Nov. 11. 

Max and Erma's – On Monday, Nov. 11, participating Max & Erma’s locations are saluting veterans and active military personnel with a free Best Cheeseburger in America Combo meal.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants – On Sunday, November 10, participating McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants will offer a complimentary entree to vets from a special menu.

Menchi's --  All veterans will receive a free 6 oz. frozen yogurt on Monday, Nov. 11.

O’Charley’s – Veterans and active duty servicemembers get a complimentary meal from a limited menu on Monday, Nov. 11.  

Olive Garden – On Monday, Nov. 11, all veterans and current servicemembers get a free meal from a limited menu. Family dining with them will also receive 10% off their meal.

On the Border – Veterans and active duty military can enjoy a free meal from the “Create Your Own Combo menu” on Monday, Nov. 11. 

Paciugo Gelato Caffè – Paciugo is offering a free 12 oz. Gelatte® to veterans and active duty military on Monday, Nov. 11 at participating locations.

Red Robin – Veterans and active duty military get a free Tavern Double Burger and Bottomless Steak Fries on Monday, Nov. 11.   

Shoney's -- Shoney's will be offering a free All-American Burger to veterans and active duty servicemembers on Monday, Nov. 11. 

Sizzler – Sizzler is offering active duty and retired military members a free lunch from a limited menu on Monday, Nov. 11 until 4 p.m.

Spaghetti Warehouse – On Sunday, Nov. 10 and Monday, Nov. 11, choose one original spaghetti entrée or 15-layer lasagna and get the second entrée free. This deal requires a coupon, which is available starting Nov. 6 at the Spaghetti Warehouse website, the Facebook page, and can be presented from a mobile phone.  

Texas Roadhouse – Texas Roadhouse locations nationwide will offer veterans a free lunch on Monday, Nov. 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Offer is good for active duty, retired or former U.S. military.

TGIFridays – Veterans and active duty military get a free lunch from a select menu on Monday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tucanos Brazilian Grill -- Active duty, reserve and retired military and veterans receive a free Churrasco meal on Monday, Nov. 11. They are also offering 10% off the entire bill for veterans and troops who dine with their families, from Friday, Nov. 8 through Veteran’s Day, Monday, Nov. 11.

Travel Centers of America -- On Monday, Nov. 11, all CDL drivers who are military veterans eat free at participating full-service restaurants. 

Village Inn – All veterans and active military personnel receive a free breakfast on Monday, Nov. 11. Choose between Buttermilk Pancakes, Belgian Waffle, or French Toast. 

Travel and Recreation:

Colonial Williamsburg – Active duty military, reservists, retirees, veterans and their dependents receive free weekend-long admission tickets Nov. 8 through Nov. 11.

Knotts Berry Farm – Knott's Berry Farm is offering free admission for veterans and active duty military personnel and one guest from November 4, 2013 to January 5, 2014. 

National Parks - On Veterans Day weekend (Nov. 9-11) veterans will have access to over 100 National Parks that require entrance fees for free.

Red Roof Inn - Red Roof Inn is offering 15% off at more than 350 properties nationwide in the month of November to veterans, active duty military and their families.

Sea World Parks and Entertainment – Veterans and active duty military can get 50% off single-day admission tickets through Nov.11, 2013.

World of Coca-Cola -- Military members receive complimentary admission year-round, but in honor of Veterans Day they also may purchase up to four half-price tickets for their friends and family Nov. 9-17.

Retailer Offerings:

Bed Bath and Beyond – Bed Bath and Beyond is offering veterans 20% off their entire purchase on Nov. 9, 10, and 11. This is good for active duty, DoD, reserves, guard, retirees, veterans, and military spouses.

Grace for Vets - Car washes from around the world who join this program offer free car washes to veterans and servicemembers on Nov. 11.

Great Clips – On Monday, Nov. 11, customers who come in for a service can get a free haircut card to give to their favorite veteran. Veterans can also receive a free haircut or get the free haircut card. Haircuts are redeemable until Dec. 31.

Home Depot  – Home Depot offers a 10% discount to all veterans during Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day. Home Depot offers the 10% discount year round to for active duty and retirees.

Lowe's – All veterans receive a 10% discount on Veterans Day, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. The offer is available in stores only.

Massage Envy – Participating Massage Envy locations in the Washington DC, Maryland, and northern Virginia region are offering a complimentary 1-hour massage to active military, veterans and spouses on Monday, Nov. 11.

Sport Clips – Participating locations are offering veterans and active duty servicemembers free haircuts on Monday, Nov. 11.

I love a good deal, so a good meal and possibly a visit to the Cabrillo National Monument may be in order on Monday.  What about you?  Those of you who aren't Vets- don't hesitate to say thanks for our service if you're so inclined.  I promise most of us will graciously appreciate it right back.  By the way, you shouldn't need to do any mental gyrations to figure out that jumble back in the second paragraph.  There are a few more discounts here by the way.