SPECIAL THANKS
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The grizzled military veterans stood sentry in a line that started around 9: 30 a.m. Saturday and grew longer by the minute. Many had beaming families by their side, children and grandchildren in tow.
They moved slowly forward down a hallway leading to a grand, crowded room where the morning’s Veterans Day honors would be bestowed upon them.
A steak-and-egg omelet at Rivers Casino, free of charge?
“This is the best free meal they give,” Tom Tengowski declared, his friend John Mincin nodding in agreement. “Of all the restaurants.”
The two men trace their service back to the Vietnam — Mr. Tengowski served from 1962 to 1966 in the Navy, while Mr. Mincin served from 1969 to 1973 in the Air Force. Yet just as often as they discuss old times, it seems, they talk about their favorite part of dining at Grand View Buffet, the casino’s sweeping 450-seat restaurant with food stations featuring barbecue, Italian food, sushi, omelets, gelato, mimosas and Bloody Marys.
“We’re regulars here,” Mr. Mincin said, remembering back several years ago to when the casino gave out Tshirts and flags at the brunch. “That was really special, to get the flags.”
Among all the solemn remembrances and patriotic celebrations held Saturday to honor the country’s veterans, a complimentary bite to eat is the holiday’s growing tradition. Businesses do not want to be left out of the festivities. At least two dozen restaurant chains in the Pittsburgh region offered some sort of promotion for current or former members of the military, in what has become as American as watching the parade on Liberty Avenue.
“It’s become fairly standard for our business,” said Craig Clark, general manager of Rivers Casino. He expected 1,000 people to file in and out over a four-hour period. “People like to be appreciated, and people like to be thanked for their service.”
Indeed, with a flash of a military ID card, customers were eligible for a free car wash, as well as a 6-inch turkey sub and a regular-size fountain drink at Sheetz; a free Bloomin’ Onion and beverage at Outback Steakhouse; a free donut at Dunkin’ Donuts; and a free appetizer at Joe’s Crab Shack.
At Applebee’s, vets received a choice of seven entrees, and other customers were urged to buy them a Budweiser affixed with a label with a personalized message of gratitude. “You served us. Now let us serve you.” Applebee’s reports serving 8.3 million Veterans Day meals in its decade of promotion.
Not all of the region’s roughly 235,000 veterans buy into it. The broader issue of thanking veterans, in particular younger people who served