Free meals and services for veterans on Long Island

Veterans Day is a time to honor those who served in the armed forces. These organizations are also setting aside Nov. 11 to give veterans free meals and services.

"We feel very strongly about being able to give back to the community and honoring our veterans," says Friendly's president and CEO John Maguire, noting that one of the restaurant chain's founding brothers, Curtis Blake, served in the Army Air Corps. "Our veterans are very important to us, and we want to show our gratitude to them by offering a free meal on Veterans Day."

Dozens of chain restaurants and other businesses are offering similar freebies -- active military personnel are also welcome to partake in the perks. Most venues require some type of military ID and suggest calling ahead to check wait times.

DINING OUT

APPLEBEES, applebees.com : A limited lunch and dinner menu of free meals includes burger, steak, chicken and shrimp. Beverage not included.

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN, cpk.com : Special menu to choose one appetizer, pizza, salad or pasta for lunch or dinner.

CARRABBAS ITALIAN, carrabbas.com : Free appetizer, no other purchase required.

CHILIS, chilis.com : Free entree from a special menu.

FRIENDLY'S, friendlys.com

The Deal Start the day with a free breakfast Big-Two-Do (2 eggs, 2 strips of bacon or sausage and choice of toast, pancakes or French toast) or opt for a burger, fries and beverage at lunch or dinner.

THE GREENE TURTLE SPORTS BAR AND GRILL, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Franklin Square, thegreeneturtle.com : Free entree from a limited menu.

HURRICANE GRILL AND WINGS, hurricanewings.com : Free meal from a limited menu at lunch and dinner, plus a nonalcoholic beverage.

MENCHIES, 646 N. Wellwood Avenue, Lindenhurst, menchies.com : Up to 6 ounces of frozen yogurt.

OLIVE GARDEN, olivegarden.com : Free entree from a special menu, includes soup or salad and garlic breadsticks.

ON THE BORDER MEXICAN GRILL, Hicksville and Holtsville locations, ontheborder.com : Choose from a special "Create Your Own Combo menu" that includes an entree and a salad.

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE, outback.com : Free bloomin' onion and nonalcoholic beverage.

RED LOBSTER, redlobster.com : Free appetizer from a list of 10 on special menu, offered through Thursday.

STARBUCKS, starbucks.com : Free tall brewed coffee for veterans, active-duty service members and their spouses.

SMOKEY BONES, 5012 Expressway E., Ronkonkoma, smokeybones.com : Meal from a limited menu (think burger, pulled pork or pasta) plus a side.

TEXAS ROADHOUSE, Locations in Deer Park and East Meadow, texasroadhouse.com : A free lunch from a limited menu including steak, fried chicken and burger, plus beverage.

HAIRCUTS

GREAT CLIPS, 826 Hicksville Rd., North Massapequa, 516-798-1500, greatclips.com : Free haircut Tuesday -- or a voucher to use before Dec. 31.

SPORTS CLIPS, 389 Nesconset Hwy., Hauppauge (631-406-7270) and 367 Independence Plaza, Selden (631-946-6988), sportsclips.com : Free haircut Tuesday. Hauppauge location is offering free cuts all week.

CAR WASHES

The following are offering free full-service car washes:

AMITYVILLE CAR WASH, 25 Merrick Rd., Amityville, 631-691-5203, amitycarwash.com

FIVE CORNERS AUTO SALON, 2080 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park, 516-328-6111, 5cornershandwash.com

PERSONAL CAR WASH, 1977 Jericho Tpke., East Northport, 631-499-9470, elwoodcarwash.com

WESTBURY CAR WASH, 14 Urban Ave., Westbury, 516-333-8808, westburycarwash.com

OTHER DEALS

FIRE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE, 631-661-4876, fireislandlighthouse.com : Free tower tours (regularly $7 adults and $4 seniors)

CENTER FOR THE ALIGNMENT OF BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT, 2050 Wantagh Ave., Wantagh, 516-221-3500, align-me.com : Free chiropractic care for one year, treating physical and anxiety issues.

MATHER HOSPITAL, North Country Rd., Port Jefferson, 631-686-2500, matherhospital.org : Free CT screenings for early lung cancer detection.