Golden Corral Restaurant (at Eastgate Plaza) Manager Brandon York (left) and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio Hospital Chairman John Plahovinsak (right) display one of the specialized Military Appreciation Veterans Day buckets that was used in accepting $1,811 in donations. Each of the 644 veterans, who received free meals on November 13, 2023, was given an “I Served” sticker for them to proudly wear. Over the last two decades, the Golden Coral Chain has provided over nineteen (19) million meals free to veterans on Appreciation Days. Photo courtesy Shirley Plahovinsak.
In the five (5) days preceding the 2023 Military Appreciation Veterans Day at the Golden Corral Restaurant at the Eastgate Plaza, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter #63 (Clermont County) received over $1,811.00 in donations from the public.
All the DAV Ohio Chapters that had Golden Corral Restaurants, in their geographical area, conducted these campaigns before Military Appreciation Veterans Day. All donations that were accepted by the DAV Chapters were then forwarded to the DAV Ohio Department’s Hospital Fund.
The Ohio Department’s Hospital Fund is used to acquire transportation vans for transporting veterans from their residence to the closest Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center (MC) for their medical appointments.
The transportation vans are then officially transferred to the VAMCs, who have overall responsibility for their operation, insurance, and maintenance.
The DAV Department of Ohio works with individual counties within Ohio to subsidize a portion of the financial costs involved in the acquisition process.
In 2022, the donations collected by all the DAV Chapters in Ohio during the Military Appreciation Veterans Day campaign were used to fund the acquisition of five (5) transportation vans.
These transportation vans were officially given to the Louis B. Stokes VAMC (in Cleveland) and subsequently re-assigned to: Huron County (one van); Crawford County (two vans) and Carroll County (two vans).
“Assisting and providing transportation vans for disabled veterans to make their medical appointments at the VAMC is just one way that the DAV provides needed services for our disabled veterans,” said DAV Chapter #63 (Clermont County) Commander Steve Smith.
“Last year the DAV Department of Ohio helped fund five (5) needed transportation vans from Golden Corral Military Appreciation Veterans Day donations,” explained Chapter Commander Smith.
“It is important for the general public to know how much money was raised in our Chapter’s effort and how the donations are making a difference in disabled veterans’ lives,” commented the Chapter Commander.
“Our Chapter takes great pride in the twin concepts of accountability and transparency of all donations received and every penny we receive goes to veterans’ services,” said the distinguished Air Force veteran.
On Monday, November 13, 2023, the Golden Corral Restaurant, at Eastgate Plaza, provided 644 meals free-of-charge to military veterans.
“It is an honor and privilege to serve the true American Heroes who selflessly defend our country and protect our freedoms,” said Lance Trenary, the President, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Golden Corral. President Trenary was also selected as the Chairman of the entire National Restaurant Association.
“Military Appreciation Night is one of our most cherished traditions that we look forward to every year,” commented President Trenary. “While it pales in comparison to what they do for us, a free meal is our way of showing our appreciation and gratitude for their service and sacrifice.”
“The Golden Corral Corporation wanted veterans on November 11, 2023, (Veterans Day) to take advantage of other restaurants offering appreciation appetizers and meals,” said Smith, “and then visit the Golden Corral Restaurants for another great military appreciation meal.”
Over the last two decades throughout the United States, Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Night has served close to seven (7) million free meals to military veterans. It has also generated nearly nineteen (19) million in guest contributions to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization to support community-based service initiatives for veterans.
“Chapters, like Chapter #63, looks forward to the days before Military Appreciation Night for several reasons,” said Past Department Commander Ray Hutchinson.
“It is an opportunity to thank other veterans for their military service; an opportunity to discuss how we can assist them in obtaining needed services,” continued Hutchinson, “and, most importantly, an opportunity to discuss what DAV Chapters can do to support disabled veterans.”
“For example, from July of 2022 to June of 2023, Chapter #63 provided $22,216.86 in needed services to our disabled veterans, according to our last Annual Financial Report,” explained Hutchinson, who also serves as the Chapter’s First Junior Vice Commander.
“We have developed a great working relationship with the Golden Corral Restaurant chain,” stated DAV Auxiliary Unit #63 Commander Shirley Plahovinsak, “ and the DAV Chapter and Auxiliary Unit has supported their efforts with the Just b Kids Scholarship campaign.”
“In August of 2023, The Chapter and Unit raised enough donations through the Just b Kids Scholarship Program to sponsor eighteen (18) children for Camp Corral, explained the Unit #63 Commander. “These children have military parents who were either killed in action or disabled and will spend one relaxing week at the Camp Corral Summer Camp.”
“We certainly appreciate participating with Golden Corral in their Military Appreciation Veteran Night and having an opportunity to talk about how our DAV Chapter serves the Clermont County military community,” commented Chapter Commander Smith.
“Our Chapter was able to enroll nineteen (19) new members into our Chapter during the five (5) days at Golden Corral,” concluded Smith, “and they certainly will make a difference in continuing our DAV mission of supporting and serving our veterans.”