Nov. 11: Veteran's Day Free Stuff

2011 Free Veterans Day Meals

Applebee's - free meal, Friday, Nov. 11: Last year, Applebee's served 1,024,000 million free meals to military veterans and active servicemembers. Applebee's is again offering a free meal to military veterans and active-duty service members on Veteran's Day, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. There will be 7 entrées to choose from.
Military ID or proof of service required. Find locations athttp://applebees.com/.

Chili's - free meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Chili's is offering all military veterans past and present their choice of one of 6 meals. This offer is available during business hours on November 11, 2011 at participating Chili's in the U.S. only. Dine-in from limited menu only; beverages and gratuity not included. Veterans and active duty
military simply show proof of military service. Visit their website to find locations.

Golden Corral - Free meal, Monday Nov. 14: The 10th annual Golden Corral Military Appreciation dinner will be held on Monday, November 14, 2011 from 5 pm to 9 pm in all Golden Corral Restaurants nationwide. The free thank you dinner is available to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to participate in Golden Corral's Military Appreciation Monday dinner.
For more information visit http://www.goldencorral.com/military/.

Special thanks to Golden Corral: To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.5 million free meals and contributed over $4.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization.

Hooters - Free Meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Hooter's is serving up a free meal to military veterans all day on Veterans Day. Offer good for all veterans and active duty military personnel. Choose one of the new specialty items on the Hooter's menu. Offer valid at participating Hooters only; open to all active duty and military veterans with valid military ID or proof of military service. Drink purchase
required. For more information, visit, www.HootersVeteransDay.com.

Krispy Kreme - Free doughnut. Available only at participating Krispy Kreme stores. Offer available to all active-duty, retirees & veterans on Friday November 11th. Be sure to call ahead to verify your local Krispy Kreme is participating.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants - free lunch or dinner, Sunday Nov 13, 2011: McCormick & Schmick's is celebrating their 13th annual Veteran's Appreciation Event on Sunday, November 13th. Veterans will be able to choose a complimentary lunch or dinner entrée. Veterans must provide proof of military service. Be sure to contact your local McCormick & Schmick's as this is valid at participating restaurants only. Also, Space is limited and reservations are highly recommended. For more information visit: M&S Veterans Appreciation Event.

Outback Steakhouse - A week of Free Bloomin' Onions and Cokes Monday
Nov. 7 - Friday Nov. 11. Outback Steakhouse is honoring America's military veterans by offering active duty military and veterans a free Bloomin' Onion and a Coca-Cola product during the week leading up to Veteran's Day. This offer is available to Military Personnel who have one of the following forms of identifications: U.S Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), DD
form 214 Veterans Organization Card (i.e., American Legion and VFW),
Photograph in Uniform, Wearing Uniform. For more information, visit,
http://outback.com/companyinfo/veteransday.aspx.

The Outback understands commitment. For the past two years, The Outback, with the help of their patrons, has donated $2 Million to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization providing everyday and emergency support for active troops, wounded warriors and their families.

Subway - Free Six Inch Sub. Select Subway locations offer a FREE six inch sub to military veterans on Veteran's Day. However, Subway restaurants are franchises, so this offer may not be available everywhere. Please call ahead.

Texas Roadhouse - free meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Offer varies by location; our local Texas Roadhouse is offering a free meal from opening until 4pm. Other locations may vary in offer, hours, or availability. Call ahead to your local restaurant for more information.

T.G.I. Friday's - Buy one get one free Nov 11-14. At participating locations for anyone with an old or current military ID. November 11-14.

Uno Chicago Grill, Friday, Nov. 11. Uno's is offering a free entree or individual pizza with a purchase of an entree or pizza of equal or greater value. Offer good for all military for veterans and active duty military. ID or proof of service required: Show up in uniform (if your service permits), provide military ID, show a picture of yourself in uniform, or have other ID showing proof of service. More info here.

Home Depot and Lowes Coupon Updates
Update: Home Depot and Lowes 10% Military Discount Available Everyday.
Home Depot: The Home Depot(R) is offering all active duty personnel, reservists, retired military, veterans and their families a 10 percent discount off their purchases in honor of Veteran's Day. The offer is valid on purchases of up to $2,000 for a maximum of $200 and is available at The Home Depot stores, The Home Depot Design Center locations, Yardbirds and EXPO Design Center(R) locations. The 10% discount is available everyday for active duty and retirees, but not all veterans. Home Depot makes this offer available to all veterans on most military holidays. You can also find Home Depot discounts online.

Lowes: Lowe's Companies, Inc. will offer all active, reserve, honorably discharged, retired military personnel and their immediate family members a 10 percent discount on in-store U.S. purchases made during the Veterans Day holiday. The discount is available Nov. 7 - Nov. 11. The discount is available on in-stock and special order purchases up to $5,000. To qualify, individuals must present a
valid military ID or other proof of service. Excluded from the discount are sales via Lowes.com, previous sales, and purchases of services or gift cards. Like Home Depot, Lowes offers this discount daily to active duty military members, but not to veterans. However, they extend the offer to military veterans on military holidays. You can also find exclusive discounts at Lowe's.com.

Free Park Admissions for Veterans Day

Here's to the Heroes

Anheuser-Busch Parks. Anheuser-Busch Parks offers Active Duty Service
Members free admission for them and up to 3 dependents to any of their parks once a year. Throughout 2011, members of the military and as many as three direct dependents may enter SeaWorld, Busch Gardens or Sesame Place parks with a single-day complimentary admission. The Here's to the Heroes program is only available to Any active duty, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsman. Eligible parks include: Adventure Island, Busch Gardens (Tampa Bay or Williamsburg), SeaWorld (Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio), Sesame Place, and Water Country USA. Not valid at Discovery Cove and Aquatica. Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va. is not included as part of this program. For more information and to register, visit: Free admission summary, and ticket application.

Colonial Williamsburg Free Admission. Colonial
Williamsburg offers free weekend-long admission tickets to active-duty military, reservists, retirees, veterans, and their immediate dependents from Friday, Nov. 11 through Sunday, Nov. 13th. The complimentary ticket incudes admission to Colonial Williamsburg exhibition sites, art museums, and most daytime programs, as well as free parking and use of the shuttle bus system. Tickets are only available at on-site ticket sales locations. Tickets are also available to families of deployed servicemembers. Tickets available on the following dates: Nov. 11-13.

Historic Jamestowne - Free Admission. The National Park Service
commemorates Veterans Day with Fee Free days at Historic Jamestowne
November 11-13. Free admission for everyone. See events calendar.

Knotts Berry Farm Military Tribute Days - Free Admission.
Knott's Berry Farm has an annual Military Tribute event in which they offer military members past and present by offering free park admission. This year the Military Tribute Days run from November 1 - 24 November (Thanksgiving Day). Veterans or current serving military personnel plus one guest get in FREE with proper ID presented at Knott's turnstile (DD214, Veterans Administration Hospital ID or Active Military Service ID). Purchase up to six additional tickets for just $17 each. More info.

Fee Free Day at National Parks. To honor America's service men
and women, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that areas managed by the National Park Service would not charge entrance fees for Veteran's Day weekend - November 11-13, 2011. Over 100 national Parks will be participating in this event.

San Jacinto Monument and Museum (La Porte, TX). November 7-13: Free
admission to the theatre, Observation Floor, and (on November 12-13) the special exhibit to all veterans and their families. More info.

Bed and Breakfast for Vets

In the third year of the program, B&Bs for Vets has organized over 485 (and counting) participating Bed and Breakfasts and Inns across the US and Canada which will be offering veterans a free night's stay on November 10th, the night before Veterans Day. This offer is available to both active duty military members and veterans with ID, but space is limited. Each Inn and B&B has at least one room available for this promotion and reservations must be made directly through the participating Inns and B&Bs. For more information visit B&Bs for Vets.

Free Hugo® Canes for Veterans.

Sam's Club® locations nationwide will distribute 36,000 Hugo® canes free of charge on November 9th, 10th, 11th, 2011 to U.S. military veterans in need of mobility assistance. Limited quantities available, while supplies last. Sam's Club® Membership is not required, but proof of military service may be required. For more information, visit HugoSalutes.com.

Other Veteran's Day Discounts

Here are some additional Veteran's Day Discounts. In all cases, be sure to provide proper ID or proof of service. In addition, some of these stores are franchises, so verify participation before assuming the discount is in place.

Free Car wash. Thousands of car washes around the country are offering
vets a free car wash on Veterans Day. Find a list at Grace for Veterans, which helped veterans receive 101,537 FREE Washes on Veterans Day in 2010.
Amazon.com - Discount Veterans Day Honor MP3 album download.
This downloadable album includes 12 songs as performed by the military
bands and ensembles of the U.S. Armed Forces. Visit Amazon on Veteran's Day to download the album.
Netflix - One Month Free Trial.
Sport Clips - FREE haircut to active-duty military & veterans. Offer only available at select locations. Please call to verify local participation.
Tim Hortons - all US locations are offering a free donut to all veterans
(check out the Star Spangled donut!).

Dec. 4: Holiday Open House at West Branch

· Holiday Open House

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4

West Branch Library

This annual open house has the theme “Sounds of the Season” and will include a sing-along, photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, storytime on the Bookmobile, crafts for all ages and cookies. Waubonsie Valley High School’s Pink Notes and Suenos Latin-Jazz will provide music. The library’s Holiday Celebrations in Many Lands will be on display throughout the month of December at the West Branch for self-guided tours.

Nov. 20: Art opening at Chef Amaury's in downtown Aurora

Sunday, November 20 from 3 to 6 p.m. local artists Lisa Gloria and Brian Busch will open their exhibit "The Food Show" at Chef Amaury. Their artwork will be foodcentric. The work is nothing short of spectacular. Cheese and fruit will be served compliments of Chef Amaury. Cash bar available. Dinner service will be available after 5 p.m.

Chef Amaury at 33 West is located at 33 W. New York St. across from Ballydoyle in downtown Aurora. Free street parking is available after 5 p.m., and free lot parking is located at the northwest corner of New York and River streets.

Nov. 11: Veteran's Day Parade

Aurora will conduct its annual Veterans Day parade and ceremony to recognize the commitment local military service men and women have given to our country.

The parade will step off at 10:15 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11 at Broadway Avenue and Benton Street in downtown Aurora. The parade route will proceed north on Broadway to Downer Place and then head west to the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall, 23 E. Downer Place.

Groups participating in the parade will be the East Aurora High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, Chicago Highland Rifles, Aurora Lamplighter Chorus, Quilts of Valor and many local veteran organizations.

The “Honoring All Who Served” ceremony will be held at about 10:30 a.m. at the GAR Memorial Hall. The ceremony will conclude with a military rifle salute by veteran organizations at 11 a.m.

Aurora resident and Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. First Class Christopher Hess will serve as the keynote speaker at the ceremony. After graduating from Aurora Central Catholic High School, Waubonsee Community College and Western Illinois University, the 15-year military veteran was a Bronze Star recipient, among his many military commendations. Hess has been deployed to the Middle East on several occasions, including Operation Desert Storm with the Marine Corps (1990-91), the War on Terror in Iraq (2003-04) and Afghanistan (2008-09). He currently is a readiness non-commissioned officer with the Aurora Army National Guard.

Parade parking will be available at the Stolp Avenue parking deck located on the corner of Downer Place and Stolp Avenue. Parade patrons should use the entrance on Stolp Avenue to access the parking deck.

The parade and ceremony are sponsored by the City of Aurora and the Roosevelt-Aurora American Legion Post No. 84. For more information, visit the City’s website at www.aurora-il.org.

Dec. 4: Montgomery Festival of Trees

This year’s event will be held on Sunday, December 4^th at 5:00 p.m. Visitors get to see Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on a fire truck, enjoy free cookies and cocoa and listen to area school children perform some of their favorite Christmas songs. This year, the event will be even bigger and better, as visitors will also be able to enjoy many beautiful trees decorated by local businesses and vote on their favorite.

The new Festival of Trees is an opportunity for local businesses to join in the festivities by displaying a decorated tree in Village Hall, promote their business to hundreds of area residents, and possibly earn the coveted title of “Favorite Decorated Tree” in the Village. Trees will be on display on December 4^th at the annual Tree Lighting event, and will remain on display for community viewing and voting through December 16^th. All trees will adorn the halls and lobby of the Village Hall. There is no charge to participate.

The Festival of Trees provides a great opportunity for businesses to reach out to the community. Businesses are encouraged to decorate their tree in a creative way that promotes the business and the products or services offered. Local businesses that have already signed up to participate include Orchard Road Animal Hospital, Montgomery-Countryside Fire Protection District, Coffman Truck Sales, Harris Bank and Schafer’s Greenhouses.

Businesses interested in providing a tree for the Festival of Trees can call Ruth Maloy 630-896-8080 x 1116 for additional information and an application form. Space is limited and is being offered on a first-come, first served basis.

Nov. 19: Jefferson Craft Fair

Jefferson Middle School will be hosting its 3rd Annual Craft Fair, Saturday, November 19th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come join us and check out over 30 local vendors showcasing a large variety merchandise! Lunch will be available for purchase courtesy of the JMS PTA. Jefferson Middle School is located at 1151 Plum Street in Aurora, just one block north of West Aurora High School.

*Nov. 4: Benefit for Aurora Hispanic Heritage

Mexican Immigration Exhibit Extended to November 18, 2011

The exhibit “Creating Mexican American Identities: Multiple Voices, Shared Dreams” has been extended until November 18 at the Aurora Historical Society gallery on the second floor of the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 East Downer Place in Aurora.

Comprised of a traveling exhibit from the West Chicago City Museum and historic photos and text assembled by the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board, the exhibit features labels in both English and Spanish.

The exhibit traces Mexican immigration to the area back to the first wave of arrivals, who came in the 1910s and 1920s primarily to work for the railroad. The bulk of the early Mexican residents lived in railroad box cars converted to housing. Later, they moved into homes in the neighborhoods where they worked and raised their families. Their descendants still reside here, many having risen to prominence in the community.

Exhibit hours are noon-4:00pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Admission is free and free off-street parking is available across the street at the Downer/Stolp Parking Deck (have ticket stamped in gift shop). Teachers and scout leaders should call the Historical Society at 630-906-0650 to discuss group tours. More information is available at www.aurorahistory.net or www.facebook.com/aurorahistory.

The Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board will hold a benefit in the exhibit gallery on Friday, November 4 from 6:00-8:30pm, with live music, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets are $10 (under 18 free) and proceeds will go to the board’s Scholarship Fund. More information about the reception is available from Dee Basile at 630-256-3370 or at www.AuroraHispanicHeritage.com.