Free Lunch for Vets and Serving Personnel

[soddim]

Perhaps UK restaurants can learn from this - maybe there is such a thing as a free lunch!

Vets can eat free on Veteran's Day

by Bruce Horovitz - Nov. 6, 2009 08:38 AM
USA Today

For all the forgettable Veterans Day sales, there's a trio of free-meal deals for military veterans that speak not just to the heart but the stomach.

Three major casual-dining chains —Applebee's, McCormick & Schmick's and Golden Corral— are offering free food to veterans and, in most cases, active-duty military personnel in observance of Veterans Day. (The official holiday is Wednesday.)

Beyond simply showing appreciation for the vets' service, the actions are about boosting brand image and business in one of the casual-dining industry's worst-ever periods. About 65% of restaurant operators reported a same-store sales decline in September compared with the same period in 2008, says the National Restaurant Association, an industry trade group.

"This not only creates goodwill," says Dennis Lombardi, executive vice president at consultant WD Partners, "but if I'm a restaurant owner right now, I'd much rather have four people eating at a table — and I pay for one of them — than have an empty table."

Everyone in casual dining is trying to drive business, so outreach to the military is a smart move, says restaurant consultant Howard Gordon. "This will get a lot of people who would normally stay home to eat out."

Others are in the mix with promotions. Outback Steakhouse offers a free Bloomin' Onion appetizer and beverage to past and present military members on Wednesday, and Krispy Kreme has free doughnuts. Home Depot and Lowe's are offering 10% discounts to military and vets.

These free meals are the hottest tickets:

• Applebee's. Applebee's is offering a free entree on Wednesday to veterans and all active-duty military from 11 a.m. to midnight at all 1,900 locations. Although Applebee's requests some kind of military ID, "We're not going to argue with folks who might forget to bring it," says Sam Rothschild, senior vice president of operations.

• McCormick & Schmick's. For the 11th year in a row, the 87 locations in 25 states are offering free entrees to veterans on Sunday. The chain also requests military ID and highly recommends reservations. The promotion is on Sunday instead of Veterans Day, "because it allows vets to bring their families who might not be available during the week," CEO Bill Freeman says.

• Golden Corral. The 485-unit chain is offering free buffet meals — including beverage and dessert — to current military and vets on Monday, Nov. 16, from 5 to 9 p.m. No military ID is required for its ninth annual Military Appreciation Monday, says Dolly Mercer, national events manager. The event is held on this date, she says, "so we don't interfere with Veterans Day activities."

[vecvechookattack]

Applebee's, McCormick & Schmick's and Golden Corral— are offering free food


Hmmmmmmm....Think I'll pass on the offer than you very much

[Pontius Navigator]

Actually The Carvery gave a free pint with a meal any day in that week. I enjoyed mine at the Jug and Bottle near Grimsby.

[Floppy Link]

Thought you meant veterinarians, now it makes sense

[Laarbruch72]

Great, another thread where somebody demands that we should be given freebies for doing our job. I remember a similar thread about Busch Gardens giving free entry, and the arguments about why Alton Towers wouldn't do the same. Do you know what? I don't want, expect, or need special treatment. When the British public starts to see us getting free meals, free offers, free entry to attractions, preferential treatment, queue jumping etc, just watch the support start to wane. And rightly so.
Like most, I joined to serve the country, not for the country to serve me.
As mentioned above, I'd rather pass on those offers anyway, it's the equivalent of getting a free main course in Pizza Hut. :yuk:

[Gainesy]

Hmm, Casual Dining, must be the Virginia Colonies.

Joking apart, I don't know what they serve, but good for them.:ok:

[Blacksheep]

All I want is to be left alone with me memories; keep yer free grub, its no better than the slop wot we got in the mess. :yuk:

Mutter, mutter, mumble,


:)

[Gainesy]

Pontious Check PMs pls.:ok:

[Lightning5]

I also believe that one American airline ( Delta I think) offers the use of the First Class lounges to serving American military guys during stop overs or awaiting connections. Now that's a good deal !! BA/VS go for it!!!:ok:

[soddim]

Laarbruch 72 - great, another innocuous post on Pprune quickly followed by a grumpy comment.

Nobody demanded anything as far as I can see. I posted this information as yet another example of how our transatlantic cousins treat their military. If you think that was a demand your understanding of English is not the same as mine.

[Laarbruch72]

Soddim, I now see you weren't demanding anything, sorry I've got my grumpy head on today. I could just see this one heading the way of the Busch Gardens thread so I thought I'd get my moan in early. :}
I suppose my main point is that just because the Americans do something doesn't mean we have to follow suit... I do find them to be a bit overly sentimental and mawkish when it comes to their military. I'm happy to pay my way and don't expect freebies.

[J D]

Quite a few folks in the US remember how the military was treated during Vietnam. And regardless of their politcal views, they want to show the troops that they and their familes are appreciated for all of their sacrafices.

[soddim]

Like you, Laarbruch 72, I am quite happy to pay my way. I do wish, however, that the military here were held in the same esteem as the US military are held in their country.

When I retired after 36 years service I was shocked to find the low regard the services were held in. I never tire of pointing out that the military is the last public service still functioning properly in our country but there are still far too many civilians who begrudge taxes spent on defence and who blame the military for involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In retrospect I was regarded more highly when I served in the USA.

[West Coast]

I suppose my main point is that just because the Americans do something doesn't mean we have to follow suit

That's quite the stiff upper lip you have.

Appreciating the military isn't a uniquely American quality. When pay, kit and QOL are in the pits and everyone knows it, sometimes it's nice that someone recognizes the work you're doing. I recognize that appreciation from within should be what drives service members, but a slap on the back and a free meal has merit as well.

[GreenKnight121]

In the article in the opening post, the reporter said Beyond simply showing appreciation for the vets' service, the actions are about boosting brand image and business in one of the casual-dining industry's worst-ever periods.

I don't know about the other two, but Golden Corral has been doing this every year for at least 10 years.

But then, reporters (like certain posters here) feel it their duty to blindly impune self-serving motives to anyone who appears to be being charitable.

[Snow Dog]

Perhaps, now that we travel by road in the lowest class hire car wearing uniform, roadside coffee shops will take pity on us and offer a free coffee and bun!

[johnfairr]

I'm very glad you did an exchange tour in the USA. I have very fond memories of the USAF Captain you introduced me to at Luke AFB . . . . . . . :ok:

[AA SLF]

I took advantage of the Applebee's offer yesterday (11th.) and it was a limited menu, but was still a good deal. Humungous hamberger, fries - and in my case a "free" drink (Pepsi). Drinks were not supposed to be free, but my Server range it up as "water" and earned a 20% tip on the "calculated" price. Place was packed at lunch time.

I have eaten at Golden Corral several times, and know that it is quality food, so I will be going there this coming Monday!!

Thank You to the establishments that do this kind of event. Most appreciated.