Holiday includes loads of freebies for veterans
A nation says thank you today to U.S. military service veterans through parades, prayers, special programs – and quite a number of free products and services.
Here are some of the many giveaways just waiting for vets to come and get ’em:
▪ Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Texas Roadhouse, 3037 Sisk Road, vets can choose one of 10 entrees, including a 6-ounce sirloin and two sides, plus a choice of beverage. Proof of service includes military or VA card, or discharge papers.
▪ Golden Corral, at McHenry and Union avenues, will serve a free dinner buffet with beverage from 5 to 9 p.m. to any veteran. State and local Disabled American Veterans representatives will be at all Golden Corral locations coordinating the collection of donations. For more information on Military Appreciation Night, visit www.goldencorral.com/military.
▪ IHOP restaurants in Modesto, Turlock and Manteca will give veterans a free stack of Red, White & Blue pancakes. The buttermilk pancakes crowned with glazed strawberries, blueberry compote and whipped topping will be served to veterans and active-duty military personnel between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
▪ Free train rides will be offered to veterans and active-duty military personnel Wednesday at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park. Those visitors are encouraged to wear their uniforms while enjoying a ride behind locomotive No. 1265, a 1952 former Army diesel that last served at the Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant. They must show current military ID or proof of discharge. Rides will be offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The crew will be made up of military veterans. For more information, call 209-984-3953 or visit www.railtown1897.org.
▪ Great Clips, which has locations in Modesto, Turlock, Riverbank, Patterson and Manteca, is offering any veteran who comes in today a card for a free haircut that can be used before the end of the year. Any customer who gets a haircut today also can pick up a card to give to a veteran.
▪ Starbucks is thanking active-duty service members, veterans and military spouses with a free 12-ounce hot brewed coffee. Also through today, Starbucks will contribute $5 to the USO transition 360 Alliance for each newly activated special-edition Veterans Starbucks Card. A $5 minimum card load is required.
▪ At Olive Garden, veterans and active-duty military will receive one of five entrese free of charge: cheese ravioli, spaghetti with meat sauce, lasagna, chicken parmigiana or garlic rosemary chicken. Additionally, family members dining with them will be given a 10 percent discount. Olive Garden has restaurants in Modesto and Turlock.
▪ Applebee’s is offering active-duty service members and veterans a free meal from a choice of seven special menu items: the American Standard burger, three-cheese chicken penne, fiesta lime chicken, double crunch shrimp, a seven-ounce sirloin steak, Oriental chicken salad and a chicken tenders platter. There are Applebee’s in Modesto, Riverbank, Turlock, Manteca, Sonora and Merced.
▪ Outback Steakhouse is giving active and veteran service members a free Bloomin’ Onion and beverage. And through the rest of the year, the chain, which has a location at 2045-D W. Briggsmore Ave., is giving military personnel and their families 15 percent off their checks through Dec. 31.
▪ Red Robin, which has locations in Riverbank, Turlock and Manteca, is giving veterans and active-duty service members a free Red’s Tavern Double burger and all-you-can-eat steak fries.
This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 8:58 AM with the headline "Holiday includes loads of freebies for veterans."