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Veterans Day 2021: Freebies and deals in central Indiana

Here is a list of locations offering special deals for veterans and active-duty military members Thursday, Nov. 11.

INDIANAPOLIS — Each year, many restaurants offer free food and deals to veterans and active-duty military members on Veterans Day to pay it forward as a way of saying "thank you for your service."

Most places require a military ID or proof of service to redeem the offer.

Here is a list of locations offering special deals on Thursday, Nov. 11:

Applebee's

Applebee's is thanking all active military, veterans, Reserves and National Guard with a complimentary full-size entrée from an exclusive menu created just for them. The special guests will also receive a $5 bounce back card to redeem for dine-in, to go or delivery orders within three weeks. 

Here are the seven entrées to choose from:

  • 6 oz. Top Sirloin
  • Double Crunch Shrimp
  • Fiesta Lime Chicken
  • Chicken Tenders Platter
  • Classic Bacon Cheeseburger
  • Oriental Chicken Salad
  • Three-Cheese Chicken Penne

Aspen Creek Grill

Aspen Creek Grill will offer a complimentary meal from a special menu for veterans and active-duty military from 3-6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11. 

The Aspen Creek Grill Veterans Day menu includes:

  • Pulled Pork Dinner
  • Aspen Hawaiian Chicken
  • Classic Cheeseburger

Military members must show proof of service through military ID cards, Veterans Affairs cards or discharge papers.

BJ's Brewhouse

Current and former military who dine in at BJ's Brewhouse locations on Nov. 11 can get a complimentary meal from the following menu (Dr. Pepper is included with each meal):

  • BJ's Sauced 'N' Tossed Chicken Thighs
  • Bacon Cheeseburger
  • Bacon-Guacamole Deluxe Burger
  • Deep Dish Ziti
  • Grilled Chicken Alfredo
  • Jumbo Spaghetti and Meatballs
  • Parmesan-Crusted Chicken
  • Mediterranean Chicken Pita Tacos
  • Small BJ's Deep Dish Pizza
  • Soup & Salad Combo

Bob Evans

Bob Evans Restaurants is offering a free meal to veterans and active-duty military. 

The special Veterans Day menu will be available all day and includes seven options to choose from when they dine in:

  • Country Biscuit Breakfast: A buttermilk biscuit topped with one egg cooked-to-order, crumbled Bob Evans® Sausage, country gravy and cheddar cheese. Served with hash browns, home fries or fresh-cut fruit.
  • The Mini Sampler: One egg cooked-to-order, hash browns, home fries or fresh-cut fruit, two sausage links, one turkey sausage link or two hardwood-smoked bacon strips and a freshly baked biscuit.
  • Brioche French Toast: Two slices of griddled Brioche bread, dipped in real egg batter, vanilla and cinnamon. Served with butter and syrup and topped with powdered sugar.
  • Buttermilk Hotcakes: Four fluffy buttermilk hotcakes served with butter and syrup.
  • Soup & Salad Combo: Farmhouse Garden Side salad with choice of soup: Chicken-N-Noodles, Hearty Beef Vegetable or Cheddar Baked Potato. Served with freshly baked rolls or banana nut bread.
  • Country-Fried Steak Dinner Bell Plate: Golden-fried country fried steak smothered with country gravy and served with mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans and freshly baked rolls or banana but bread.
  • Mushroom & Onion Chopped Steak Dinner Dell Plate: Chopped steak made with 100% U.S.-raised Black Angus beef topped with grilled mushrooms and onions. Served with mashed potatoes, gravy, broccoli and freshly baked rolls or banana nut bread.

Bonefish Grill

Bonefish Grill is offering service members, veterans and first responders 10% off checks. A valid ID will need to be shown to collect the discount. It is the same discount as is offered all year.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings is offering 10 boneless wings and fries for free for all past and present military members on Nov. 11 only. The offer is available for both dine-in and carry-out orders. Online orders are excluded. Proof of service must be shown to take advantage of the offer.

Carrabba's Italian Grill

Carrabba's Itialian Grill will offer service members, veterans and first responders 10% off checks. A valid ID will need to be shown to collect the discount. It is the same discount as is offered all year. 

Casey's

Casey’s convenience stores are offering a free cup of coffee to service members both past and present on Nov. 11.

Chili's

Chili's is giving all veterans and active military personnel a complimentary entrée from the following options:

  • Chicken Crispers®
  • Margarita Grilled Chicken
  • Soup & Salad
  • Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas
  • Just Bacon Burger
  • Oldtimer with Cheese
  • Cajun Chicken Pasta

The offer is only available for dine-in.

Crew Carwash

Crew Carwash is giving a free basic carwash to all past and current service members Thursday, Nov. 11 from 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

The offer will be available at all 39 Crew Carwash locations in the state. No military ID is required to redeem the offer.

Cunningham Restaurant Group

Cunningham Restaurant Group restaurants are providing a complimentary meal for veterans. Proof of service is required before the meal. 

Here are CRG's central Indiana restaurants: 

  • Boulder Creek Dining Company
  • Bru Burger Bar
  • Charbonos
  • Livery
  • Mesh
  • Modita
  • Nesso
  • Provision
  • Rize
  • Stone Creek Company
  • Tavern at the Point
  • Union 50
  • Vida

Denny's

Denny's is offering a complimentary "Build Your Own Grand Slam" to all active, inactive and military personnel on Thursday, Nov. 11. The Build Your Own Grand Slam includes a choice of four items for a fully customizable breakfast.  

The offer is valid for dine-in only at participating locations from 5 a.m. to noon local time with a valid military ID or DD Form 214.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit

Dickey's Barbecue Pit is honoring our nation's heroes Nov. 11 with a free pulled pork sandwich to veterans who use the code VETFREE. The offer is available in-stores, as well as carry-out and online orders.

The restaurant chain will also give veterans 15% off all orders from Nov. 11-Dec. 31 with the code VETERAN15.

Dunkin'

Dunkin' is giving all veterans and active military a free donut of their choice, no purchase necessary, on Thursday, Nov. 11.

There is a limit of one donut per guest, while supplies last. No ID is required to redeem the offer, which is available in-stores only.

Fazoli's

Fazoli's is saluting those who bravely protect and serve our country by offering a free regular spaghetti with meat or marinara sauce on Wednesday, Nov. 10 and Thursday, Nov. 11.

The offer is valid at participating locations only.

Golden Corral

Golden Corral is holding a "Military Appreciation Night" Thursday, Nov. 11 from 5 p.m. until close with a free "thank you" meal to active and former military members.

The offer is good for any person who has served in the U.S. Military, including retirees, veterans, active duty, National Guard or Reserves.

Graeter's Ice Cream

Graeter’s Ice Cream is offering a free sundae to all veterans and those currently serving in the U.S. Military on Veterans Day. The offer is valid at any local locations.

Great Clips

Great Clips is offering veteran and active military service members a free haircut on Veterans Day.

Veterans and active service members can go into any U.S. Great Clips salon Thursday, Nov. 11 and get a free haircut or a free haircut card for a future visit between Nov. 12-Dec. 10, 2021. 

In addition, nonmilitary customers who get a haircut on Veterans Day at Great Clips salons can pay it forward: They will receive a free haircut card they can give to an active service member or veteran as a way of saying thank you.  

Hooters

Hooters is welcoming all active-duty and retired military to stop in for a free meal Thursday, Nov. 11.

All veterans who present a military ID or proof of service and purchase a beverage at any participating Hooters location nationwide will receive a free entrée from the Hooters Veterans Day menu:

  • Buffalo Chicken Salad
  • Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
  • Grilled Chicken Sandwich
  • Hooters Burger
  • 10-Piece Boneless Wings

IHOP

The International House of Pancakes is giving all U.S. veterans and active duty military a free order of Red, White & Blueberry Pancakes on Thursday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The offer is available for dine-in only, and proof of military service is required.

IndyGo

 IndyGo is offering free paratransit rides Thursday, Nov. 11 to veterans who are already eligible and approved for Open Door service.

Veterans only need a valid ID to participate. They will not need an IndyGo MyKey Veterans Pass.

All veterans can ride free on fixed routes, including the Red Line, 365 days a year with a valid MyKey Veterans Pass.

Jaggers

Jaggers locations in Noblesville and Greenwood are giving a free lunch — double cheeseburger, one side and a drink — to veterans and active members of U.S. on Thursday, November 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Proof of service is required and includes a military ID card, Veterans Affairs card, or discharge papers.

Joella's Hot Chicken

Joella's is offering a free meal to active military members, veterans and reserves. Those who qualify will need to show proof of service to receive two fried or grilled tenders, a side, a dipping sauce and a drink. The deal is good at all Joella's locations.

Additionally, veterans and active military receive a 10% discount daily with proof of service.

Kohl's

Kohl's is recognizing veterans, active and former military personnel, as well as their immediate families, with 30% off in-store purchases from Thursday, Nov. 11-Sunday, Nov. 14.

The department store offers a 15% in-store discount every Monday for active and former military personnel, veterans and their immediate families.

Kolache Factory

Kolache Factory stores nationwide are offering free breakfast to all veterans and all those who are actively serving our country in the U.S. armed forces. 

All veterans and servicemen and women are invited to come in and enjoy one free kolache and a cup of coffee. Just show a military photo ID or DD 214. Croissants and Polish variety products are excluded. 

“A free breakfast on Veterans Day is our way of saying, ‘We see you. We remember you. We thank You,’” said Dawn Nielsen, COO of Kolache Factory. “We hope all members of the military will come out and enjoy a kolache and coffee on us.”

Little Caesar's

Little Caesar's is giving veterans or active members of the U.S. Military a free lunch combo, which includes four slices of DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza with Pepperoni and a 20 oz. Pepsi-Cola product.

The offer is good Thursday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, and proof of service is required.

Metro Diner

Metro Diner is offering 50% off to active and retired military with a valid ID on Nov. 11. Diners can apply the discount towards a meal at breakfast, lunch or dinner. A 10% discount is offered year-round to active and retired military members.

Punch Bowl Social

Veterans and active duty military members can enjoy one hour of free activities at Punch Bowl Social in Indianapolis on Thursday, Nov. 11.

The offer is good through 6 p.m. and includes vintage arcade games, giant scrabble, bowling, ping pong, skeeball, karaoke and more.

Punch Bowl Social opens at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11.

Red Lobster

Red Lobster is offering veterans, active duty military and reservists a free appetizer or dessert while they dine-in on Thursday, Nov. 11. Guests must show a valid military ID or proof of service to redeem this offer. 

Click here to see a list of the redeemable appetizers and desserts.

Smokey Bones

Smokey Bones in Greenwood is offering a free meal to active and retired military for Veterans Day. The offer is good for dine-in only and for one of three meals:

  • 8 piece boneless wings with fries, baked beans, roasted corn or coleslaw
  • Pulled pork sammie with fries, baked beans, roasted corn or coleslaw
  • 4 whole wings with fries, baked beans, roasted corn or coleslaw

Smokey Bones also offers a year-round 10 percent military discount.

Sports Clips

Sports Clips will offer free haircuts for veterans and service members with a military ID.

Sports Clips will also donate $2 per haircut service for veterans on Nov. 11 toward this year's fundraising goal of $1.5 million for its Help A Hero veteran scholarship campaign. 

Starbucks

Starbucks will also be honoring veterans with a deal and donation in honor of those who have served.

  • On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, Starbucks will offer a free tall (12 ounce) hot brewed coffee for veterans, military service members and military spouses at participating U.S. Starbucks stores. 
  • Starbucks will also donate 25 cents for every cup of hot brewed coffee sold nationwide on Nov. 11 to military nonprofits Team Red, White & Blue and Headstrong to support the mental health and wellbeing of military communities.  

White Castle

White Castle is offering a free Combo Meal #1-#6 or Breakfast Combo Meal to all veterans and active duty service members who dine at a participating White Castle restaurant. The special offer is valid on Thursday, Nov. 11.

Veterans and those on active duty are encouraged to visit their local White Castle to receive this offer in recognition of their service. No purchase is necessary, but veterans and active duty personnel are requested to show a military ID. 

 For more information, visit www.whitecastle.com.

As for retail discounts, check out the site ID.Me.

Some of the deals listed are 40% off at Adidas, Reebok and Under Armour.

While some of the savings are one-day only bonuses, others are year-round.

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