It's Veteran's Day!
Tonight Applebee's was offering an entrée to all veterans, so I took my mom (US Navy Veteran!) to claim her free dinner. It was a really nice thing for the restaurant chain to do... but the place was packed to the rafters, and most of them weren't veterans. They were just accompanying a veteran (like me, my brother, and sister-in-law). So Applebee's was making out like bandits, probably clearing one of their biggest money-making days ever. I actually think that's pretty cool though. Do something nice, and get something in return... everybody wins!
Which is why a group of friends and I continue to take turns grabbing names from AnySoldier.com and sending care packages to them while they're serving far from home. Soldiers get something that makes their lives a little better, and we get to be the ones who makes it happen... everybody wins!
If you want to know how YOU can help, I've written about AnySolder.com --here-- and --here--.
(With my apologies to the Coast Guard, but I haven't received a name in that branch of service yet!)
A heartfelt thank you to all those who are serving in our military or have served in the past (thanks mom & dad!) and those who have given their lives in service of a grateful nation.
I've said it before, but every day should be Veteran's Day.
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I still love that you do this. 🙂
I love that I do it too. 🙂
yes thank you. Even to the Nat’l Guard (my particular branch)
Yes, even the National Guard, who are also being called upon to serve in Afghanistan and Iraq!
I’m a veteran (1C471 in the Air Force) and got in on the free meal at Applebees. It was pretty cool, but I couldn’t help but to think how the waitstaff was getting shafted because a large percentage of their work wasn’t being paid for and therefore tipped on. I tipped 20% on what I would have paid, which meant I left like a 70% tip.
I had to go for a late dinner because Applebees was so crowded for lunch my wife and I couldn’t get in and didn’t want to try as the line stretched into the parking lot. Instead we went to Fridays, and establishment I haven’t been so fond of in the past. There they asked if I was a Veteran and gave me 25% off my entire meal. This wasn’t an advertised deal, which made it seem pretty damned cool to me. I went there expecting to pay a certain amount for a meal and to get that 25% off was just a great bonus/thank you.
If I were working at Applebee’s, I would be happy and honored to be helping out with their Veteran’s Day promotion… even if it meant no tip at all. When we were at dinner, they had a very full staff, and everybody seemed to be in good spirits and happy to be in on it. Perhaps the feeling of giving something back to veterans (even with reduced tips) is its own reward?
We got there at 4:00 and there were people waiting, but we were seated very quickly. By the time we left at 5:00, however, the line was out the door.
I tend to believe people value what they pay for and that a LOT of people who normaly wouldn’t eat at Applebee’s just dropped in for the free meal.
Awesome marketing, btw!
My wife and I seem to have some sort of restaurant curse where simply bad, and all-too-often horrid service is the norm. We’ve been forgotten about so many times (having to wait for 5 minutes is not “forgoton”, but being handed menus and left alone for 45′ is) or just had bad stuff happen (like the napkin and reciept found in my wife’s drink at the Orlando Hooters) often enough that I tip well if the service is good and have gotten up the courage to simply leave if I’m treated poorly (but I don’t skip out on the bill).
I’m not a cheapskate when it comes to tipping and the norm for me is 20% (but I tip on the total bill minus the tax….can’t see tipping on tax!).
I’m just thinking that as a per-turn basis tips could have been down anywhere from 25-60%, but overall the amount might be up simply due to increased traffic. Wednesday night was also kid’s night….
Thank you my son, for remembering and thinking of us. God bless and watch over all of the kids who are now serving our great country.
Amen to that!
Super cool post, Dave. I love the ‘toons! And deep thanks and gratitude to Dave1, Mrs. Dave1, and all the veterans and those currently serving.
Just wanted to say thank you for letting us know about anysoldier.com. This inspired me to collect money and items from a bunch of people at work. Tomorrow I’m shipping a bunch of boxes, in total weighing 117 pounds! Hoping to make life a little more bearable for some of our servicemen and women. 🙂
thanks!
I need to find an Applebee’s in Atlanta on Nov 11! I think there are some in the ‘burbs nearby.