Although not all U.S. states recognize Women Veterans Day on June 12, female vets are honored alongside their male counterparts on the all-encompassing Veterans Day on Nov. 11. As such, VFW Post 981 Color Guard will present and remove the Colors at the Community Arts Center in Buffalo Grove today.
Additional events and special offers for veterans are as follows:
“Hup, two, three, four”
Veterans Memorial Park in Glencoe marks the start of the Chicago Veterans Ruck March today. The parade travels down Sheridan Road to Centennial Park in Evanston for lunch, and culminates with a presentation of medals in Chicago along Lake Michigan in Lincoln Park. Likewise, the City of Aurora hosts a Veterans Day Procession and Ceremony with military rifle salute at 11 a.m. to commemorate the exact time the armistice (which ended WWI) was signed.
Museum Zones
Admission is always free for veterans and members of the military at the Adler Planetarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and the Museum of Science and Industry. For more information, visit Blue Star Museums.
Active Tours
Personnel with Military ID may receive free admission for Wrigley Field tours and $10 admission for Soldier Field Stadium tours throughout the year.
Stars and Streams
About Face Theatre, Court Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Northlight Theatre, and Steppenwolf Theatre Company regularly salute U.S. military personnel, veterans and first responders (along with their spouses and children) with discounted tickets to live productions.
Plus, vets can receive 40% off tickets and refreshments year-round at AMC Theatres. Click here to learn more about ongoing military deals at Cinemark, IMAX, Marcus Theatres, and Regal Cinemas.
Additionally, veterans, active military and first responders who sign up for DISH TV, receive a free movie rental and the Stars channel pack at no extra cost. Fubo TV, Hulu (with ads) and Peacock TV are among the streaming services that offer eligible veterans, service members and their dependents discounted subscriptions.
About Face (and Mouth)
Service members who dine in at IHOP today can have red, white and blueberry pancakes on the house as well as a free Original Grand Slam® breakfast at participating Denny’s restaurants. Peet’s Coffee will give a drip coffee or tea to veterans and active-duty military. That goes double for Einstein Bros. Bagels, Starbucks, and Krispy Kreme which will include a free donut. In addition to giving veterans and military members donuts today, vets get 10% off all year at Dunkin’.
There is such a thing as a free lunch for veterans and active-duty military at Little Caesars, Sizzler and White Castle today. Free meals for U.S. vets are also offered at Red Robin and Red Lobster on Nov. 11. And, as part of Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Night, service members and veterans will receive a complimentary meal from 4 p.m. to closing time tonight.
The Tap House Grill is serving vets and active service members a Sam Adams pint and free meal today. Applebee’s, Bar Louie, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Olive Garden and TGI Fridays are also offering a free dish from a special menu to veterans and active-duty military. The same is true of the Hard Rock Café which gives a 15% military discount year-round. On Nov. 11, veterans and active-duty military can enjoy a free entrée or individual pizza with the purchase of second meal of equal or greater value at Uno’s Pizzeria & Grill.
Head and Arms Deals
Great Clips is giving active-duty and retired military a free haircut on Nov. 11, or a free haircut card to use later. For 30-day access to UFC GYM, vets and military members must contact UFC before Nov. 30.
Shopping Operations
Amazon is offering a 20% discount off select items on Veterans Day.
Ashley Furniture is giving veterans and active military members 10% off any purchase online or at participating stores through Nov. 13.
IKEA lets vets and active military members with a valid ID take 15% off of in-store purchases up to $3,000 through Nov. 22.
Kohl’s grants active and former military personnel, veterans and their families 30% off qualifying in-store purchases through Nov. 12.
Samsung has a Military Offers Program that provides active-duty military, veterans and their families with discounts on phones, tablets, smart watches and other products all year.
Target is offering a 10% discount on Nov. 11 to all active military personnel, veterans and their families.
Walgreens honors veterans, active military members and their families with 20% off of eligible store items through Nov. 13.
Tactical Movement
Everyday, active-duty personnel in uniform and disabled veterans may board CTA buses for free (a military service pass is required for those not in uniform). AutoNation provides active-duty, vets and their spouses a 20% discount on all services (Nov. 11-16), while participating Take 5 Oil Change gives a 25% discount on oil changes year-round to active-duty and retired military members.