Happy Veterans' Day - Free Meals

[boyerbt]

I just wanted to say thanks to any and all active/retired/reserve military personnel that are on the MMM site for your service.

And keeping with the goal of reducing spending I have included a link of all of the restaurants across the country that are offering free food, drinks, etc today for all military personnel.

http://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-day-free-meals-and-discounts/

Thanks again!

[AgileTurtle]

How do veterans prove they are veterans at these places? I am a veteran an I have no way of proving that unless I carry around discharge papers.

[projekt]

You have to show them your thousand-yard stare.

[2ndTimer]

I never thought about the issue of proving you are a veteran.  Always assumed that the Hub would get some kind of card when he retired.  That said, we are planning to have the free coffee at Starbucks today.

[AgileTurtle]

I never thought about the issue of proving you are a veteran.  Always assumed that the Hub would get some kind of card when he retired.  That said, we are planning to have the free coffee at Starbucks today.

I think there may be a retirement card (20+ years) but not a veteran card. There is no such thing from what I can tell.
I guess I will do more digging or just go to one of the places and say I want my free stuff and show them a pic on my phone of me in uniform ahhahaha

[goatmom]

you can bring your dd 214 aka discharge papers. you can go to your local county veterans office and get a card to prove it also good for ten percent off at lowes all year round, or if you ate retired then you get a retired id card.  happy veteran's day! starbucks? really?

[boyerbt]

Almost all of the locations say that you have to prove with a active Military ID card (I assume reserves also have this) or a retired Military ID. I know my Dad has his in his wallet along with his driver's license.

[Bateaux]

I've only done it once at Olive Garden.   They actually asked me if I were a vet.  I said yes and the waitress told me my meal woukd be free.
That was great.  Thanks

[NoraLenderbee]

My dad got his honorable discharge in 1946. We found the old papers recently. I wonder if he could get a free meal?

[eil]

"Veteran" to most people means you retired from the service or were injured in while on-duty and receive VA benefits. In both cases, I do believe you get an ID card.

If you are like me and are just an average schmuck who served for some years (but not long enough to retire) and just got an ordinary honorable discharge then yes, you are technically a veteran. But not the kind that this holiday was created to celebrate.

[LALALA]

I have done these twice and both times I was not asked to provide proof, but I did bring a picture of myself in uniform in case I was asked. Makes me wish I was younger.

[lizzzi]

In our town, the ads mostly say "Military ID or else your discharge papers." I have my DD214, of course, with a couple of photocopies…but I just felt funny about going to get free food at the restaurants. I probably should have--next year maybe I will. What I did do, which was a real hoot, was go to my grandkids elementary school where the kids invite relatives who are veterans to share the school lunch and hear a program of the third-graders singing patriotic songs.  Several of the kids came up to me with hand-printed notes on lined paper with crayon-colored pictures of a GI in fatigues. The notes all said the same thing: Hello, soldier. Thank you for helping me by preserving my freedom. Your friend, (Matthew, Kimmy, Abby, etc., etc.) So cute. As a former Air Force nurse, it was hilarious to be addressed as "Hello, soldier."

[tofuchampion]

I've never tried to take advantage of any of these because I'd need my DD214 plus my divorce papers and later marriage license to document name changes... and it's kind of a hassle.  I did used to get the military discount at Moe's bc I had a friend who worked there and knew I'd served, so he just did it.  But I'm always afraid they'll ask for proof, and I don't want to have to bring along a whole file folder of paperwork just to save a few bucks.

[One Noisy Cat]

    I did it two years ago. Brought DD214 but they asked straight out.  Being mostly bald helps convince people you are ex military.

   Quite frankly this "thank you for your service" bit gets a little embarrassing. Someone at work said that last year and I replied I needed a job at the time but I always gave them a good days work.  If you don't get killed or wounded a military life has its advantages...and some disadvantages.

[Kriegsspiel]

"Veteran" to most people means you retired from the service or were injured in while on-duty and receive VA benefits. In both cases, I do believe you get an ID card.

If you are like me and are just an average schmuck who served for some years (but not long enough to retire) and just got an ordinary honorable discharge then yes, you are technically a veteran. But not the kind that this holiday was created to celebrate.

Your opinion doesn't make sense. My grandpa fought in EB Sledge's unit as an infantryman in WWII, wasn't wounded, and didn't retire, and is the archetypal vet that Veteran's day was made for.

It also wouldn't make sense when applied to the same type of person who served in any war.