Great Veterans Days Promotions and then some ??!

First, a big thank you to all of you who have served and sacrificed so much for our country! My hat is off to our veterans this day!

In honor of Vets Day, the USA Today is reporting some nice promotions being offered to men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces from some major chains.  They are also sharing some promotions that leave some scratching their head:

• Applebee’s, with nearly 2000 locations, is offering a free entree
• McCormick & Schmick’s with nearly 87 locations, is offering a free entree also. They were actually offering it last Sunday to allow it to be a family affair!
• Golden Corral a chain with 485 units is offering an entire free buffet meals

Other restaurants not in the article that are or have made  entree special offers include:

• Uno Chicago Grill with its 200 locations is offering veterans a free entree or a pizza with the purchase of another entree or pizza.
• Texas Roadhouse is buying dinner for Vets
• Abuelos Mexican is buying dinner.

In addition to these, again since 2002, OSI Restaurant Partners (with nearly 1500 units) had volunteers  visit and support  soldiers by serving food  from OSI’s five restaurants: Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine.

Now I do not want to knock any free offers to our vets. There are approximately 1,400,000 in active duty and another 19,400,000 living war veterans and they deserve more than they get from us.  Although I believe someone ought to share something with these restaurant’s leaders. That is if you are going to be promoted in a national publication like USA Today for sharing with men and women who risk their lives to defend our freedoms, then do you want to be known for giving them a free doughnut? HUH?? Why cant it be doughnut and a coffee? A free doughnut…

“Thank you so much for your service to our country. Here is your free doughnut.”

I am not saying a free doughnut is bad. But if you are going to try to cash in on some publicity to serve veterans then make it worth it. Otherwise do it quietly, or don’t do anything at all.