Freebies For All Veteran's Today 11-11-2010!

Today is Veteran's Day, a national American holiday. Although I am not a veteran, I appreciate, support and am very grateful for their service to our country. I live in a military town, San Diego, CA and want to help those who serve.  No matter what you think of war or what political affiliation you follow, we should all support our troops. Thousands have given their lives for our freedoms.

 Fortunately, there are lots of  businesses who want to give back in some small way to Veteran's, active duty service members and their families. You'll definitely need to show your ID to take advantage of the freebie's and discounts. I did a search and found lots of free and discounted meals, free admission to certain parks, free haircuts, free donuts; plus discounts at hardware stores and Old Navy.

Below is a partial list. Please click on the highlighted words for more information. Some are in San Diego only, while others are nationwide.

Free admission to the USS Midway Museum in downtown San Diego. Stop in after the parade! Anyone who donates blood to the San Diego Blood Bank can also enter for free. Click here for details.


Wahoo's Fish Taco is going to be celebrating Veterans Day this year by giving a free #1 combo meal to all active and retired military personal. You must be 18.

Uno Chicago Grille is offering a free entrée or pizza with the purchase of another entrée or pizza for all veterans and active duty military.  

Free meals  and other discounts are being offered at Famous Dave's BBQ, a national chain.

Tabe BBQ Grille is offering 50% off with military ID, but only at their store on Murphy Canyon Road.

Applebee's and Chili’s restaurants are both offering all military veterans past and present their choice of one of six meals for free.

More than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees are waiving that fee on Thursday. Visit one of your national parks on Veterans Day.

Outback Steakhouse's appreciation to our Country's veterans and active duty military, comes in the form of a free Bloomin' Onion and beverage of choice (one non-alcoholic drink or one draft Anheuser Busch beer except where prohibited by law). Check http://www.outback.com/ for locations.  

Amazon.com  has free “Veterans Day Honor” MP3 album downloads. The album includes 12 songs by The Bands and Ensembles of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Sea World is offering veteran's and three direct dependents free admission on any one day of the year.

Knott's Berry Farm offers free admission for vet's today. Actually vets can go for free on any one day of the year.

Krispy Kreme Donuts has free donuts for our fighting hero's.

Old Navy clothing is offering military personnel a 30% discount on purchases for the second week of November. Lowe's and Home Depot are giving a 10% discount all this week.

Wear your uniform or show your ID at T.G.I.Friday's through the weekend to get a "buy one meal, get one free."

Mimi's Cafe is offering a free meal with any $20 purchase, but only with this coupon.

Participating Hooter's restaurants are offering free meals to active service members and vet's with ID.

Sports Clips Haircut is a chain salon for men of all ages and is offering a free haircut to active military and veterans on Nov. 11 at participating Sports Clips locations.

If you aren't a veteran, but would like to help one, volunteer or donate money; here are a few links of some terrific organizations:

National Veteran's Foundation
Freedom is Not Free: Serving Wounded Warriors
Leave No Veteran Behind

This is one small way I thought of to officially thank you for your service. I hope it lets you know how much you're appreciated. My boss, Dave Rickards,  always thanks our military listeners for their service to our country. So I've gotten into that wonderful habit as well and I encourage you to try it too. It feels good.

And Happy Holiday if you're lucky enough to get the day off!