The Golden Corral on Vets Day
posted at 10:06 am on November 13, 2007 by Bryan
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Being both a veteran and a steak lover, I decided to take my family out for the free dinner that the Golden Corral offered for veterans yesterday. There’s a Golden Corral not too far from us and we’ve been there often and always enjoyed it. So we drive over and pull in to the parking lot, only to see that there’s a line several hundred people deep and out the door halfway across the lot to the street. The line was at least an hour long just to get into the restaurant. I wish I’d had a camera, because I hadn’t seen so many veterans in one place in months. There were men in fatigues and Vietnam Veteran hats, some younger men and women who might be Gulf War or war on terror vets, people like me who served between the Iraq wars, and even a truck decked out with decorations celebrating the troops. The line was too long so we ended up going elsewhere, but it was great to see so many vets in one place getting a little bit of thanks. Even though we didn’t get to experience it personally, I wanted to thank the Golden Corral and its ownership for the gesture. I’m sure all those vets who got to eat up all that steak last night enjoyed themselves.
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Big thanks to the Golden Corral, that is a very expensive way to say thanks to our Vets. Not that they don’t deserve it but to emphasize how generous Golden Corral’s offer is.
I’ll be much more inclined to buy my next steak dinner at Golden Corral. This says so much more to me than any stupid TV or radio commercial ever could. Thank you very much !
Maxx on November 13, 2007 at 10:14 AM
I’m sorry you didn’t get their steak, Bryan, and I thank you for your service. Thank you to all vets for your sacrifices. My husband’s a Viet Nam era vet and his choice was home-made gumbo.
You all would’ve been welcome to join our table.
PattyAnn on November 13, 2007 at 10:17 AM
That’s pretty darned awesome of GC!
I still favor the old-fashioned approach of buying a GI a meal if you happen to cross paths in the local diner…
Ochlan on November 13, 2007 at 10:18 AM
Thanks, Golden Corral.
…and Starbucks wouldn’t even give away a lousy cup of coffee.
BacaDog on November 13, 2007 at 10:20 AM
Jim Maynard is a good man. They’ve been supporting the military with food and fundraising for years.
Tanya on November 13, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Would a Vet be caught in a starbucks?
csdeven on November 13, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Dang. I wish I knew about this yesterday. I could have had me some free steak.
SoulGlo on November 13, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Hell no. Those fools can’t make good military coffee. :)
Kowboy on November 13, 2007 at 10:25 AM
Camp Doha in Kuwait had a Starbucks in back in 2004.
BohicaTwentyTwo on November 13, 2007 at 10:27 AM
Very nice indeed. Next year there’ll be Democrats picketing with their baby-killer’s signs. You won’t be able to miss the media’s oversaturation of that story.
Griz on November 13, 2007 at 10:29 AM
The Golden Corral in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia actually required 3 police cars to direct traffic out front. I’ll be a future patron to be sure.
mugged on November 13, 2007 at 10:34 AM
Bryan, what kind of a blogger goes anywhere without a camera? If I were Michelle I’d dock you a week’s pay! Just kiddin’, don’t ban me! :-)
The wifey and I are goin’ out to the G.C. tonight to thank them for their kind gesture to our Vets. Technically I’m a Vet too but I’d rather go tonight and pay for my meal so as to help G.C. recupe some of the money they lost.
This’ll be my first time eating there, this Vet program has brought in some new customers, isn’t Capitalism great? Thank you Golden Corral!
Tony737 on November 13, 2007 at 10:43 AM
I’ve been to Golden Corral a couple of times in my life. (too much food for someone who doesn’t eat very much) That said, excellent, Golden Corral. I’ll be sure to eat there more often with the fam.
mjk on November 13, 2007 at 10:45 AM
I am not a fan of Golden Corral food but I am a big fan of this gesture for the troops.
Classy move, GC!
Hoodlumman on November 13, 2007 at 10:47 AM
yes my next dinner out will be at GC. This is what all America companies need to do. Goog gets a thumbs up also if barely. CNN should get the message soon but if their ratings haven’t shown them yet I don’t know what will. what’s up with the threat from Hillary campaign? Are they afraid of the big bad Wolfe?
unseen on November 13, 2007 at 10:56 AM
I had a steak dinner at the Golden Corral last night here in Michigan. The line was very long but went extremely fast. The restaurant was clean and the employees were very polite. The food was great. THANK YOU Golden Corral for your patriotism and your generosity.
netdude5 on November 13, 2007 at 11:08 AM
and Starbucks wouldn’t even give away a lousy cup of coffee.BacaDog on November 13, 2007 at 10:20 AM
Would a Vet be caught in a starbucks?
Hey guys stop pissin’ all over Starbucks. They send tons of coffee to our troops overseas, much of it donated by employees who could have taken it home for free, and by customers!
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on November 13, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Unfortunatly there isn’t a Golden Corral near me but I took the time to send a note to the main office and tell that what a classy gesture that is. When I am out traveling I will definatly look for one of these fine restaurants so I can peruse their bill of fare.
deadbackpacker on November 13, 2007 at 11:23 AM
In the event you think I’m making it up about Starbucks, here’s an article about them in in DefenseLink News.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=24787
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on November 13, 2007 at 11:25 AM
Are there any Golden Corrals on the left coast? I’d like to thank them myself.
maintenanceman on November 13, 2007 at 11:25 AM
Was it only dinner? I was there yesterday for lunch because Sweet Tomatoes was too crowded, and it was pretty dead. I think though that this particular one was not well managed, so it wasn’t as good as others I’ve tried.
It is a nice gesture though.
jjjen on November 13, 2007 at 11:28 AM
Bryan, I just found out Golden Corral does this every year. Last year they served 282,000 veterans. article
abinitioadinfinitum on November 13, 2007 at 11:36 AM
Other than the Defense Link article, I’ve never heard of Starbucks handing out ANYTHING. Hope someone can vouch for this. All we ever got was a 25 lb tin labeled “Coffee, ground”
RMCS_USN on November 13, 2007 at 11:41 AM
Awesome story, thanks for posting it. We’ll going to GC very soon after reading this…
Schweggie on November 13, 2007 at 11:51 AM
Thank you for serving, BRYAN. I appreciate you.
PoliticallyIncorrectSandy on November 13, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Starbucks does a good thing. That sounds like a local initiative instead of a corporate one, but still, good job.
see-dubya on November 13, 2007 at 11:55 AM
Tanya, Is he a vet? does anyone know? before I have to go thru the enormous effort of searching.
shooter on November 13, 2007 at 12:10 PM
My husband and I partook of GC’s generosity last night, and it was wonderful. Having relocated to the Albany, NY area, we were shocked at finding a GC here, and then the number of veterans and their families at GC by 5:15 last night. The food was stupendous, and the service wonderful. I used to eat at the GC outside of Aberdeen Proving Ground when I was 2LT in 1984. Menu has changed since then, and this was a wonderful surprise. Now, if they would stop serving pepsi products- that would be a patriotic marriage made in heaven.
trainwife1962 on November 13, 2007 at 12:47 PM
I think Starbucks is against militarism. Its part of their corporate policy.
Labamigo on November 13, 2007 at 1:03 PM
G.C. serves Pepsi? All the more reason for us to go there!
Tony737 on November 13, 2007 at 1:30 PM
Labamigo–
check my link at 11:55. Starbucks is doing better.
I’m more of a Peet’s guy, but good for them.
see-dubya on November 13, 2007 at 1:44 PM
Everyone should send The Golden Corral Corporate an email to thank them, I did.
http://www.goldencorral.com/contact/
gradyman on November 13, 2007 at 2:12 PM
That is awesome!! good for Golden Corral.
But I’d actually pay to not eat there.
TheSitRep on November 13, 2007 at 2:33 PM
McCormick & Schmicks offered free dinners too.
The one here in Burbank has fantastic food.
BTW Bryan, I didn’t know you served…what branch of service were you in?
The Ugly American on November 13, 2007 at 4:04 PM
Speaking of coffee….The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf also donates regularly to Soldiers’ Angels
Nothing against Starbucks, but I always try to give them my business first. Mainly cause their coffee tastes better : )
The Ugly American on November 13, 2007 at 4:16 PM
I’ve had the GC dinner the last two Veterans Days. Didn’t get it last night as I was at Front Sight getting a 4-day tactical handgun training course, but my wife and her retired LTC father went.
thomashton on November 13, 2007 at 4:48 PM
Air Force.
Bryan on November 13, 2007 at 5:36 PM
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