Are you looking for camping gear, home improvement items, a wedding dress or a dog, or basically anything else? Today’s article points you in the right direction for over 30 special offers (free and discounts) at 17,000 locations and online in Part 3 of the Veterans’ Day Benefits series.

By now, you should have already planned on going somewhere (see Part 1: Over 75 Free Offers for Veterans Day) and determined where you will to eat (see Part 2: 14,000 Establishments Offering Meals, Desserts and Beverages this Veterans Day).  Today’s article discusses the other opportunities for Veterans Day. Tomorrow’s wrap-up installment will cover any new events that have become available.

Once again, a few quick disclaimers up front. All of the information was either taken from company web pages or from personal discussions with the organizations. However, there may still be some inaccuracies. Every entry has a web link and/or a phone number. Before you head out the door, verify nothing changed.

For those of us who have served, we know that you are a Veteran if you were or are currently serving in the Active Duty, National Guard or Reserves.  However, many non-military people do not understand this. Therefore, some offers are for active duty, retired and/or discharged prior to retirement  Veterans. As a result, the offers have three categories. 1. Active Duty–includes all Total Force personnel (Regular, Reserves, Guard). 2. Retired–over 20 years of service or medically retired.  3. Veterans–all others not included in category 1 and 2 who received anything other than a dishonorable discharge.

Proof of Service. Once again, many people do not understand the difference between a DD214, active duty CAC, retired blue ID card, dependent ID, Veterans Administration ID or VFW membership card. In fact, several companies are willing to accept a picture of you in a uniform as proof.

Before we head into the list, I need to shout out special recognition to the hard work MilitaryWallet.com has done in keeping their list updated. Finally, every effort will be made to ensure this is the most comprehensive list on the web. If you are aware of additional offers, please comment on this article with a company or organization web page. Together, we can maximize the number of Veterans who can take advantage of these opportunities.

Adopt-a-Pet: Free pet adoption various dates in November 2011. Many Humane Societies and pet shelters are offering free pet adoptions to veterans. Additional services and supplies are included at some locations. Contact your local organization to determine if they are participating. In California visit Pets to Patriots: http://laanimalalliance.org/petstopatriots.php

Amazon.com: Free MP3 album download “Veterans Day Honor” November 11, 2011. The 9-songs/instrumentals, performed by military bands, can be downloaded for free until Veterans Day as an album or in three tracks. To download the music visit: http://www.amazon.com/Veterans-Day-Honor/dp/B002QC4EL6/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320816319&sr=301-1

Appreciation Card: Veterans Day appreciation cards with  no expiration date. User must print cards. Available at: http://www.freechurchforms.com/veterans_day_cards.html

Big Lots: 10% off entire purchase November 11, 2011. Discount is available in over 1,400 stores nationwide. Eligibility: Veterans, Active Duty, Retired. Valid military ID required.  For additional information see weekly flyer. To locate a Big Lots near you visit: http://www.biglots.com/store-locator

Brides Across America: Free wedding dress November 9 – 20, 2011. More than 35 bridal salons in 25 states are offering free wedding dresses. Each store will be preparing a select number of gown to give away. Most gowns are samples and overstocks worth approximately $500 to $3000.  Dresses range in sizes from 4-22 and will be given away on a first-come, first serve basis. Eligibility: Must be engaged, or had a civil ceremony and planning a wedding within the next 18 months. Bride or fiancee were deployed within the past 5 years to Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Bahrain, Libya, Kuwait and Japan and have not had a formal wedding will be deploying to Afghanistan, Iraq, Qatar, Libya, Bahrain, Kuwait and Japan. Military brides must bring drivers license or their military ID for verification. Copy of deployment papers for bride or Fiancee that states the time of deployment and location.  For additional information visit: http://www.bridesacrossamerica.com/

Cabela’s: United States retail stores will offer employee discount November 10 – 11, 2011. This offer will appear in flyers in the local areas Cabela’s retail stores serve. The discount is not listed on the Cabela’s web page. Eligibility: Veterans, Active Duty, Retired, Police, Fire, EMS. Proof of service is required. To locate a store visit: http://www.cabelas.com/stores/stores_home.jsp?WTz_l=Header

Car Wash: Free car wash November 11, 2011. More than 1,700 car washes in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand offering free car washes. The Grace for Vets network provided 101,537 car washes in 2010. Eligibility: Veterans, Active Duty, Retired. No proof of service is required.  For additional information and to locate a car wash visit: http://graceforvets.org/

Certificates of Appreciation: Free printable certificates with no expiration date. Appreciation certificates that can be individualized. User must print certificates. Five options: Navy, Army, Marine, Air Force Coast Guard. Available at: www.freechurchforms.com/veteransday.html

Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse: Buy one entree get second of equal or lesser value free November 11, 2011.  21 locations in NJ, NY, PA. Eligibility: Veterans, Active Duty, Retired. Proof of service required. For coupon visit: http://charliebrowns.com/coupon/?CB_Vet_Coupon

Clip Art:: Free Veterans/Remembrance Day clip art with no expiration date. Large selection of clip art for teachers, parents and organizations.

• Pete’s PowerPoint Station available at: http://holidays.pppst.com/veteransday.html
• HubPages available at: http://wordplay.hubpages.com/hub/veterans-day-clip-art

Coloring book: Free Coloring Books with no expiration date. User is responsible for printing. Available at:

• FreeChurchForms.com: http://www.freechurchforms.com/support-files/veteransdaycoloringbook.pdf
• Leanne’s Family Web Page: http://www.coloring.ws/remembrance1.htm
• Pastiche Family Portal: http://parenting.leehansen.com/downloads/coloring/patriotic-coloring.htm

Computer Wall Paper: Free computer wall paper by Graffiti with no expiration date. Available at: http://wallpapers.graphicfreebies.com/veteransday.html

Ecards: Free Veterans Day Ecards. Several companies are offering free  Ecards.  Dates vary, but all include November 11, 2011. Eligibility: Everyone, military and non-military.

• Heinz is offering several very nice Ecards. For every card sent or  “Like” received, Heinz will donate donate 57 cents in support of Wounded Warrior Project. Available at: http://www.heinzketchup.com/ourturntoserve/
• 123 Greetings: http://www.123greetings.com/
• E Greetings.com: http://www.egreetings.com/holidays/veterans-day?path=2454943
• CrossCards.com: http://www.crosscards.com/cards/categoryview.aspx?pcat=holidays&cat=veterans-day
• A Light House: http://www.alighthouse.com/veteransday.htm
• Yahoo Greetings: http://www.yahoo.americangreetings.com/ecards/category.pd/yahoo-greetings/holidays/november-holidays/veterans-day/
• Freedom Cards: http://freedomcards.com/cards/patriotic/th-veterans-day-freedom-isnt-free.html

Department of Veterans Affairs: Wide range of resources from teacher resources to the Veterans History Project. Available at: http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/

Dollar General: 10% discount on entire purchase. Online November 11 – 13, In-store November 11, 2011.  Over 9,500 stores in 35 states. Use Coupon Code VETERANSDAY online. Proof of service not specified. For additional information visit: http://www2.dollargeneral.com/Ads-and-Promos/Salute-the-Troops/Pages/index.aspx

Food Lion: 10% discount on groceries November 11, 2011. Over 1,200 grocery stores in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic United States.  Eligibility: Veterans, Active Duty, Retired. Eligibility: Military ID and Food Lion MVP card.  For additional information visit:. http://www.foodlion.com/Savings/Promotions/Woundedwarrior

Hair Saloon for Men: Free hair cut November 11, 2011. Eligibility: “War Veterans” and Active Duty. Proof of service not specified.  Call your local saloon to determine if they are accepting all veterans.  For additional information visit: http://hairsaloon.com/

Holiday Games: Free online games with no expiration date. Available at: http://www.wartgames.com/themes/holidays/veteransday.html

Home Depot: 10% discount November 11, 2011. The 10% discount may be applied to a maximum of $2,000 in purchases at participating stores. Eligibility: Veterans, Active Duty, Retired. Proof of service required. The discount is not listed on the Home Depot web page. To locate a Home Depot near you, visit: http://www.homedepot.com

International Cars Ltd: Employee pricing entire month of November, 2011.  Five New England dealerships selling Honda, Chevrolet, Audi, Porsche (Honda North, Dover Honda, Dover Chevrolet, Audi Stratham, Porsche of Stratham and Dover Auto Collision Center). Additionally, International Cars Ltd. will donate $100 to the Wounded Warrior Project for each car sold. Eligibility: Veterans, Active Duty, Retired. Proof of service required. For additional information visit:  http://portsmouth-nh.patch.com/events/international-cars-ltd-commemorates-veterans-appreciation-month

Joann fabric and craft stores: 20% off total purchase November 11-12, 2011.  Includes regular, sale-priced and clearance items. Offer only valid in one of Joann’s 751 stores and can be found in sale flyer. Eligibility: Veterans, Active Duty, Retired and Dependents.  Proof of service past or present or military
dependent ID. To find a Joann store visit: www.joann.com.

Lesson Plans: Free Veterans/Remembrance Day Lesson plans with no expiration date. Available at:

• Pete’s Power Point Station: Station: http://holidays.pppst.com/veteransday.html
• Education World: http://www.educationworld.com/holidays/archives/veterans_day.shtml
• Hyper Pixels Media: http://www.hyperpixelsmedia.com/free-still-backgrounds/veterans-day-tribute-title-background
• The Teacher’s Guide: http://theteachersguide.com/veteransday.htm

Lowe’s: 10% discount on entire purchase November 11, 2011. At over 1,700 stores Active duty and retired military receive 10% discount every day. On Veterans Day all veterans are included. eligibility: Veterans, Active Duty, Retired and their immediate family members. Military/retired ID or DD214 are required. For additional information visit: http://www.lowes.com/

Party Games: Free printable games with no expiration date. Available at: http://partysupplieshut.com/veterans-day/veterans-day-party-games.htm

Poems: Free Veterans Day poems with no expiration date. Sponsored by Party Supplies Hut. Available at: http://www.freechurchforms.com/support-files/veteransdaypoems.pdf

Rhinestone Wedding Chapel: 20% discount for weddings and vow renewal November 11, 2011.  Eligibility: Veterans, Active Duty, Retired. Proof of service required. For additional information visit: http://rhinestoneweddingchapel.com/

Sam’s Club: Free Hugo collapsible cane November 9 – 11, 2011.  Sam’s Club 610 locations and Hugo have teamed up to offer 36,000 canes to Veterans. Eligibility: Veterans in need of mobility assistance. Proof of service may be required. For additional information visit: http://www.hugosalutes.com/ To find a Sam’s Club near you visit: http://www3.samsclub.com/clublocator/?iid=120810_RFI|NP|CLUB_LOCATOR|3PFooter|ClubLocator

Sears: “Salute to Heroes” in store 10% discount November 11 – 12, 2011. Not all stores are participating.Call your local store to confirm. To locate a store, visit: http://www.sears.com/

Sermons: Free inspirational Veterans Day sermons.  Available at: http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Veterans-Day-Sermons-Illustrations-Videos

Sports Authority: Discount 15% on all purchases November 11, 2011. 450 stores in 45 states. This is not advertised. Eligibility: Veterans, Active  Duty, Retired. Proof of service required. To locate a store visit: http://www.sportsauthority.com/home/index.jsp

Sport Clips: $1 donated to Help a Hero program for haircuts on  November 11, 2011. Although this is not a discount program, it does benefit veterans.  There are more than 800 stores nationwide. For additional information visit: http://www.sportclips.com/help-a-hero.html

24 Hour Fitness: One week free membership November 7 – 13, 2011. This is the fifth year more than 400 fitness facilities in 17 states have participated. Eligibility: Veterans, Active Duty, Retired and their dependents.  Proof of service military/retired ID, DD214, dependent ID. For additional information visit: http://www.24hourfitness.com/non_member_home.html

Tough Mudder: $20 discount off registration fee at any location.  Events utilize a 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. Enter  “ToughMuddinVets” in the key code when registering online at toughmudder.com. Discount is good at any location throughout the United States and will also be given for 2012 events. For additional information visit: http://toughmudder.com/

Veterans Day Presentation.  Free presentation children with no expiration date. In PowerPoint format. Great for teachers and parents to teach their children about Veterans/Remembrance Day. Available at: http://holidays.pppst.com/veteransday.html

Veterans Day information and resources. USASearch.gov is the official United States Governments Internet search engine. It provides an enormous number of Veterans Day resources. Available at: http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/