Veterans pour into local restaurants offering free meals on Veteran’s Day

Local deals for U.S. service members

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Veteran's Day is a federal holiday and many businesses are closed.

However, there are quite a few stores and restaurants that are open and will offer veteran discounts as a way of saying thanks.

The men and women willing to pay the ultimate price to defend our nation won’t have to pay full price at several local businesses. 

Monday, veterans lined up, willing to bear long wait times in order to take advantage of free meals and deals offered around Yuma.

In recent years, local restaurants like Texas Roadhouse and the Hamburger Stand have offered free meals for vets on Veteran’s Day

The community wants our service members to feel comfortable and appreciated when they go out in public.

Tom McLaughlin retired from the Air Force after 18 years. He says it's about time more places offer veterans discounts.
 
“Where were they in 1969 when I had to fight my way out of bars because I was a child killer? Now, I’m not afraid to walk into a bar and say I was in Vietnam,” McLaughlin told News 11.

Terri Wasserman is a caregiver to a veteran with dementia and cancer, she said, “We have to support them, and make them comfortable in knowing that we care."

Nancy Star retired from the Marine Corps after serving 23 years. 

While waiting for a table at Texas Roadhouse, she said, “The Yuma community does a great service for the veterans in the area. I think they really take care of us, as well as we take care of them.”

Colton Komora works at Hamburger Stand and when asked why it's important to offer discounts to veterans on Veteran's Day, he said, “We’re just trying to give a little something back to them on this day.”

Each year, more organizations are getting in the spirit of honoring our service members in this way.