
With over 350 Golden Corral restaurants participating in Military Appreciation Night last fall, DAV chapters nationwide eagerly seized the opportunity to engage their members by accepting monetary donations for DAV. The annual event brings veterans together for a meal and serves as a powerful fundraising effort that has, to date, raised over $20 million for DAV chapter-led initiatives.
“Military Appreciation Night is a special night at Golden Corral,” said Maria Santy, a Marine veteran and commander of Chapter 7 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. “It’s a place where veterans greet, meet and share a dinner. A place where surprises always arrive, and by that, I mean you never know who will walk through those glass doors.”
One familiar face from Chapter 7 who walked through the door was Army veteran Michael Johnson. He has attended the event since he became a DAV life member in 2005.
“I keep going back to the event because I like meeting other veterans and being able to give them information on DAV,” Johnson said. “Many veterans come and want information on how they can file a claim for their disability, and I’m glad I can be there to tell them how DAV can help them.”
While numbers from this year’s event are still being finalized, during the 2023 event, Golden Corral served nearly 190,000 free meals to our nation’s heroes and raised more than $1 million for DAV. These funds support crucial chapter-led initiatives, such as purchasing vehicles for the DAV Transportation Network, a program where volunteers drive veterans to their Department of Veterans Affairs medical appointments. This service ensures veterans, particularly those who live in rural areas and other places far from their nearest VA clinic, have access to essential health care.
Johnson, who regularly volunteers to drive veterans to their medical appointments, sees firsthand how these funds are making a difference.
“There are always veterans that need help,” Johnson said. “I can help by picking them up and driving them to their VA appointments. The VA hospital is about 50 miles away, but I know how important it is that they have someone to drive them.”
Johnson isn’t the only chapter member who works tirelessly to care for veterans in his community. Gerald Tyler, a Marine veteran, had volunteered for several hours leading up to the event at his local Golden Corral, spreading the word about the partnership with DAV and encouraging donations.
“I serve about six hours daily on average,” Tyler said. “When people come in, I tell them about DAV’s relationship with Golden Corral and how Military Appreciation Night is important because it connects people of all military eras and reminds us of the importance of our sacrifices.”

For Tyler, the event is about not only honoring those who have served but also making meaningful connections.
“We engage in dialogue and tell a few war stories. I would invite others to come out next year and enjoy a free meal, chitchat a little bit and have a good time.”
DAV National Commander Daniel Contreras, an Army veteran, echoes the importance of events like Military Appreciation Night.
“Golden Corral hosts one of the largest military reunions in the world every November. They were the first to offer a nationwide thank-you meal, and the impact they’ve had supporting our mission at the grassroots level is unsurpassed,” he said. “Military Appreciation Night is a lifeline for many who are underserved, bringing veterans of all backgrounds together to engage in camaraderie, connect with resources and know they aren’t alone in their journey.”