VETERANS – You served, You Sacrificed, We Recognize…
By M.Ernat
Dear Veteran – Thank you for standing up when so many sat down. Thank you for rushing in when so many rushed out. Thank you for standing watch while so many slept. Thank You for protecting our rights when so many threatened them. Thank you for having courage when facing the unknown. Thank you for having our backs even when we didn’t realize we needed it. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE & YOUR SACRIFICE.
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “All gave some, some gave all” in reference to the service and sacrifices made by those who answered the call to duty for our country. Veterans Day is meant to be a day we specifically honor all who have served in war and in peace to ensure the rights and freedom we are afforded by the constitution are upheld.
It’s easy to recognize those serving in the U.S. military when they are in uniform, but I’ve found over the years, I can often recognize them even out of uniform – by the way they carry themselves. It’s not always that obvious with veterans, but if you pay attention, you can usually spot something radiating that veteran vibe – whether it’s the Vietnam hat their wearing, or the flag pin on their lapel, a bumper sticker or decal in their window, or maybe it is obvious once again by the way they carry themselves. Once a soldier, always a soldier.
For pomp & circumstance, Veterans Day is often filled with parades and ceremonies. It’s the one day of the year the country (as a whole) honors veterans. For active-duty military families, or for those who have lost family and friends in war, or those who have watched a family member struggle with a service-connected disability – honoring those who serve or have served is a daily ritual. I think, sometimes, there’s this auto-response to seeing a service member in uniform (or wearing something reflective of the era they served in), which triggers us to say “thank you for your service”. Some, though certainly not all, may have a story to tell, or a memory to share – maybe, you can be the listener they very much appreciate. Let them tell their story.
For us, at VanDerGinst Law, we do our best to honor Veterans daily, and their stories can be both inspiring and tragic – but we want to hear them. We believe all veterans deserve our support, our gratitude, and our time – not just on veteran’s Day, but every day! We wanted to do more than just thank our vets for their service. We wanted to actively advocate for veterans, which is why we have an entire team dedicated to helping veterans with their disability claims appeals. America’s veterans did their part, now it’s time they get compensated appropriately for all the sacrifices they made.
On this Veterans Day – we wanted to share how some other companies show their appreciation. Below is a list of discounts, promotions, and special deals for veterans. You can find a full, national list at MilitaryBenefits.info – Veterans Day 2021.
- 7-Eleven (Free coffee or Big Gulp through the 7-Eleven app)
- Applebee’s (Veterans and active-duty military can get a free meal from a limited menu – proof of service required)
- Bettendorf Transit (Free fixed-route transit rides Nov. 8-13)
- Buffalo Wild Wings (Veterans and active military (dine-in or carry-out) will get a free order of boneless wings and a side of fries)
- Casey’s General Store (Free coffee to all veterans and active duty military on Nov. 11) – Casey’s also offers the opportunity for customers to round up their total purchase price by donating the extra change to Hope for the Warriors and Children of Fallen Patriots.
- Dunkin’ Donuts (Vets get a 10% discount and free donut)
- Hy-Vee (Veterans and active-duty military get a Free buffet-style breakfast from 6-10 a.m., Free donuts and coffee at all Hy-Vee Dollar Fresh locations, and 15% off their total grocery purchase – all on Nov. 11th)
- IHOP (Free red, white & blueberry pancakes 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.)
- Little Ceasars Pizza (Free lunch combo 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
- MetroLINK (Free fixed-route bus rides for Veterans Nov. 7 – 13)
- Palmer Grill (Breakfast – 2 eggs, bacon/sausage & toast for $2)
- Starbucks (Veterans and active-duty military AND their spouses – Free cup of Tall Hot Coffee). Also, Starbucks will donate to HeadStrong and Team Red, White & Blue for every cup of hot coffee sold on Nov. 11.
- Taco John’s (Free small beef taco combo through the app)
- Texas Roadhouse (Vouchers good for one of ten entrees and a drink through May 30, 2022 will be available in the parking lot of the 53rd Davenport location on Nov. 11th from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Proof of Service required).
- Village Inn (Free V.I.B. breakfast with proof of service)
- Wendy’s (Free small breakfast combo with valid military ID / proof of service)
No matter how you choose to celebrate and/or honor those who have served this Veterans Day – just remember to honor them.