DAV Magazine — January/February 2018
More than a meal
Golden Corral hosts 17th annual Military Appreciation Night to support local DAV service programs
More than a decade ago, Army veteran Stanley Roberts ventured into a local Golden Corral around Veterans Day because he heard about a free thank-you meal being served to veterans and active-duty military personnel. What he did not know was how the evening would change his life.
“I had been experiencing some issues with my sleep and my overall temperament when I went to eat that night,” said Roberts, who had served in Vietnam. “I was tight on money, but it was really about being around some fellow veterans to put me at ease. I was not all that schooled up on my benefits as a veteran and had sort of pushed it to the back of my mind. Then I ran into the DAV representative who introduced me to a national service officer.”
DAV was able to secure Roberts’ service-connected benefits within two months, which helped alleviate his immediate financial needs and got him access to regular and routine medical care.
“I have been a proud member of DAV Chapter 57 in Dallas ever since,” Roberts said. “DAV gets things done, but I will be forever grateful to both Golden Corral and DAV for presenting me with this opportunity.”
Golden Corral restaurants hosted their 17th annual Military Appreciation Night Nov. 13, 2017, at all of their locations nationwide, serving up free meals to current and former service members.
“The entire Golden Corral system is very passionate about supporting our veterans and active-duty men and women, and we believe thanking them with a free dinner buffet is one way to show our immense appreciation for their service to our country,” said Lance Trenary, president and CEO of Golden Corral.
Since the start of the partnership in 2001, the event has offered much more than a free meal and trips down memory lane. Many DAV chapters and departments look to the night as an opportunity to garner support to help maintain and raise awareness for their community service programs—all of which are provided at no cost to veterans or their families.
“This is a fundraiser that allows us to do the programs during the year that help so many veterans and their families,” said Theodore Garry, commander of DAV Chapter 13 in Glen Burnie, Md. “Military Appreciation Night allows us to do that, and we have had an amazing run this year.”
Over the past 17 years, Golden Corral and its guests have raised more than $14.3 million while serving more than 5.4 million free meals. In 2017 alone, they raised over $1.4 million and served more than 315,000 meals.
“In addition to raising funds, as you saw with Mr. Roberts, Military Appreciation Night is a great opportunity for our many chapters to connect with veterans throughout the nation and engage them about the services we offer veterans,” said National Adjutant Marc Burgess.
“A meal is a small token of our gratitude, as they have given us so much more than that,” said Crystal Ray-Hooks, a Texas-based Golden Corral district manager. “It is very important to give thanks to veterans and their families. They have sacrificed so much over the years for our freedom.”
“We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with DAV, and we are very honored to have raised more than $14.3 million for local and state chapters,” said Trenary. “We owe so much to those who have served and sacrificed for our country, and we know how critical it is that we support these brave Americans through the programs and services that DAV provides.”
“As a veteran myself, it’s always a night I look forward to,” said Deshaun Jenkins, a member of DAV Chapter 1 in Cincinnati. “It’s a night where DAV is able to meet more veterans, raise awareness of our programs, and raise funds in order to sustain those very programs for veterans and their families. It is a rare opportunity for DAV, Golden Corral and veterans alike. I hope to see the partnership continue for many, many more years.”
More than a decade ago, Army veteran Stanley Roberts ventured into a local Golden Corral around Veterans Day because he heard about a free thank-you meal being served to veterans and active-duty military personnel. What he did not know was how the evening would change his life.
“I had been experiencing some issues with my sleep and my overall temperament when I went to eat that night,” said Roberts, who had served in Vietnam. “I was tight on money, but it was really about being around some fellow veterans to put me at ease. I was not all that schooled up on my benefits as a veteran and had sort of pushed it to the back of my mind. Then I ran into the DAV representative who introduced me to a national service officer.”
DAV was able to secure Roberts’ service-connected benefits within two months, which helped alleviate his immediate financial needs and got him access to regular and routine medical care.
“I have been a proud member of DAV Chapter 57 in Dallas ever since,” Roberts said. “DAV gets things done, but I will be forever grateful to both Golden Corral and DAV for presenting me with this opportunity.”
Golden Corral restaurants hosted their 17th annual Military Appreciation Night Nov. 13, 2017, at all of their locations nationwide, serving up free meals to current and former service members.
“The entire Golden Corral system is very passionate about supporting our veterans and active-duty men and women, and we believe thanking them with a free dinner buffet is one way to show our immense appreciation for their service to our country,” said Lance Trenary, president and CEO of Golden Corral.
Since the start of the partnership in 2001, the event has offered much more than a free meal and trips down memory lane. Many DAV chapters and departments look to the night as an opportunity to garner support to help maintain and raise awareness for their community service programs—all of which are provided at no cost to veterans or their families.
“This is a fundraiser that allows us to do the programs during the year that help so many veterans and their families,” said Theodore Garry, commander of DAV Chapter 13 in Glen Burnie, Md. “Military Appreciation Night allows us to do that, and we have had an amazing run this year.”
Over the past 17 years, Golden Corral and its guests have raised more than $14.3 million while serving more than 5.4 million free meals. In 2017 alone, they raised over $1.4 million and served more than 315,000 meals.
“In addition to raising funds, as you saw with Mr. Roberts, Military Appreciation Night is a great opportunity for our many chapters to connect with veterans throughout the nation and engage them about the services we offer veterans,” said National Adjutant Marc Burgess.
“A meal is a small token of our gratitude, as they have given us so much more than that,” said Crystal Ray-Hooks, a Texas-based Golden Corral district manager. “It is very important to give thanks to veterans and their families. They have sacrificed so much over the years for our freedom.”
“We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with DAV, and we are very honored to have raised more than $14.3 million for local and state chapters,” said Trenary. “We owe so much to those who have served and sacrificed for our country, and we know how critical it is that we support these brave Americans through the programs and services that DAV provides.”
“As a veteran myself, it’s always a night I look forward to,” said Deshaun Jenkins, a member of DAV Chapter 1 in Cincinnati. “It’s a night where DAV is able to meet more veterans, raise awareness of our programs, and raise funds in order to sustain those very programs for veterans and their families. It is a rare opportunity for DAV, Golden Corral and veterans alike. I hope to see the partnership continue for many, many more years.”
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