Military Briefs (11/11)

Famous Dave’s honors local vets with free meal on Veterans Day

To commemorate Veterans Day 2009, Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que is offering all veterans a free meal. From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Veterans of military service can visit one of the three Famous Dave’s locations in the Valley for a complimentary entree. The veteran must provide some kind of identification proving that he/she is a veteran, such as an old military ID, dog tags with a picture ID, photo of them in uniform or some sort of memorabilia from their time in service.

Famous Dave’s is also still offering Military Monday’s, a year-long promotion in which anyone with a military ID or family military ID gets a 20 percent discount on their meal every Monday.

The closest location is at 3250 W. Frye Road in Chandler.

Sports Clips gives free haircuts to military men, women on Veterans Day

Sport Clips at Chandler Boulevard and 48th Street will give free haircuts to military service men and women on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in conjunction with their efforts to support Operation Uplink for men and women overseas to call home this holiday season.

For information, visit www.SportsClips.com.

Military Appreciation Monday to honor veterans

Golden Corral’s tradition of honoring heroes during Military Appreciation Monday started nine years ago and will take place this year on Nov. 16. A free dinner buffet and beverage will be offered to all current and former members of the military the Monday after Veteran’s Day, while raising donations for the Disabled American Veterans. To date, more than two million complimentary meals have been served to veterans and nearly $3.3 million donated to the DAV.

Military Appreciation Monday stands firm in its roots of honoring the men and women who have sacrificed for our country. No collateral purchase is required, and veterans do not have to show proof of service. 

Golden Corral will serve free dinner buffets with beverage from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 16 to any person who is or has served in any branch of the United States military, including the National Guard and Reserves. State and local DAV representatives will be on-site at all Golden Corral locations coordinating the collection of donations from customers.

The nearest locations are at 7609 W. Thomas Road in Phoenix and 1318 N. Cooper Road in Gilbert.

For more information, visit www.goldencorral.com/military.

USAF Band of the West performing free concert

The United States Air Force Band of the West will present an evening of popular concert band repertoire starting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the Ikeda Theater at the Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St.

This event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required and may be obtained by calling (480) 644-6500 or online at www.mesaartscenter.com.

Groups help military families

Over the last five years, 1.6 million military service members have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. CAMP HOPE is a new fundraising campaign by Easter Seals and Epsilon Sigma Alpha International to provide camping opportunities for children of military families. A $600 contribution to CAMP HOPE will provide a week-long camping experience for these kids, allowing them to be kids again and also the opportunity to share their experiences with children of other service members. Any and all donations will provide services to support families learning to live with a service member facing newly acquired disabilities.

More information and CAMP HOPE support forms are available at www.esaintl.com/iccouncil/files/CampHope.pdf. Help say a much deserved “Thank You” to some of our youngest heroes.

Ahwatukee American Legion Post 64 and Veterans Club

The Ahwatukee American Legion Post 64 and Veterans Club meets at 3 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive. The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21.

For more information, contact Rod Green at (480) 496-6169.

TShirts 4 Soldiers helps people connect

The Home Sweet Home Campaign’s new program, TShirts 4 Soldiers, is helping people connect with their deployed loved ones. This unique and fun way to send a piece of your heart and home to a service member you love is making a big splash in the military world. Spouses, children, mothers and more are designing one-of-a-kind T-shirts and having them shipped directly to their loved one. In turn, service members are sending T-shirts they have designed back home to their family and friends.

For every T-shirt sold, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to USA Cares Warrior Treatment Today Program, which seeks to remove the financial barrier that prohibits veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or Traumatic Brain Injuries from receiving the treatment they need.

To learn more, go to www.OurSoldiers.org or contact Beth Ann VanHoose at (618) 567-1384 or e-mail Beth@OurSoldiers.org.