If you live somewhere in the U.S., it’s nearly impossible to not be familiar with Applebee’s! The neighborhood bar and grill supports our nation’s heroes every Veterans Day by offering a free meal to active and retired servicemen and servicewomen.

Applebee’s was one of the first and largest casual dining brands to provide veterans with a free meal. Veterans Day is one of the company’s busiest days of the year, and since 2008, the restaurant chain has served 8.3 million free meals to veterans and active duty military.

This Veterans Day on November 11, Applebee’s franchisees will celebrate 11 years of the tradition and aim to serve close to one million meals. But the company’s dedication to vets goes beyond just the free meal; Applebee’s tries to show its appreciation to veteran families and foster a sense of community among retired and active military patrons.