Free food, events for Veterans Day on Long Island

Veterans Day is a solemn occasion, but it’s also a day for the men and women who served in the armed forces to dine out on the house, tour a museum (free of charge) and bask in the glow of a new pro-veterans movement.

Greenlight a Vet is a national initiative spearheaded this year by Walmart. Americans are asked at greenlightavet.com to “change one light to green in a visible location on your porch, in your home or at your office, and keep it glowing every day as a symbol of appreciation and support for our veterans.”

“If somebody puts one green light on their house, it indicates that you support a vet,” says Frank Urso, 70, a real estate professional and Vietnam veteran from Huntington. Urso recently replaced two white lights with green floodlights on his front porch over the doorway as a salute to his fellow veterans.

Also honoring veterans in a new way this year is the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, which is usually closed on Veterans Day. However, this year the museum will be hosting a Veterans Day dedication of its newest exhibit: an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft made on Long Island and deployed in U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the museum hosts a ceremony for veterans, who will be admitted free all day, says museum executive vice president Jacky Clyman. Guests also can see an exhibit of photographs by “women who risked their lives in World War I to take photos at the front lines,” Clyman says.

A number of other museums and restaurants also are pitching in to make the day special. Bring an ID that proves you are a veteran or active service member — or wear your uniform — for a free meal, aquarium stroll or lighthouse tower tour. As always, call ahead to confirm before you go.

MUSEUMS

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery

1660 Rte. 25A, Cold Spring Harbor

516-692-6768, cshfha.org

Free admission on Veterans Day

The nonprofit educational center, which boasts two aquarium buildings, eight outdoor ponds teeming with trout, and the largest living collection of New York State freshwater reptiles, fish and amphibians. Fish-feeding demonstrations are at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

Fire Island Lighthouse

Robert Moses State Park field 5

631-321-7028, fireislandlighthouse.com

Free tours of the historic 192-step lighthouse tower, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

RESTAURANTS

Applebee’s Veterans and active-duty military members can select a free meal from a limited menu. Choices include three-cheese chicken penne, oriental chicken salad and a 7-ounce sirloin steak (888-592-7753, applebees.com).

California Pizza Kitchen Free entrees from a special Veterans Day menu include pizza and salad (800-91-WECARE, cpk.com).

Chili’s The Tex-Mex-themed chain honors vets with a free grilled chicken burrito, grilled chicken salad or other items from a special menu (516-222-7001, chilis.com).

IHOP The Westbury location serves free short stacks of red, white and blue pancakes to veterans and active military members, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. (516-280-5000, ihop.com).

Friendly’s From opening until 11 a.m., vets can dig into a free Big-Two-Do breakfast of two large eggs, two strips of bacon or sausage links, a choice of toast, pancakes or French toast, and coffee. The lunch-dinner freebie, offered from 11 a.m. to closing, serves up a free All-American cheeseburger, fries and a drink (800-966-9970, friendlys.com).