Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter #63 (Clermont County) accepted $2,684.71 in donations from customers during its five (5) day effort at the Golden Corral Restaurant at Eastgate Plaza. Ten (10) DAV Chapter members and three (3) DAV Auxiliary members participated.
“The patrons who visited the Golden Corral Restaurant from November 7th to November 11th (Military Appreciation Night) were very generous,” stated Interim Chapter Commander Jim Stanzak. “They responded so positively when we explained where the donations will be directed.”
Last year, during the same November time ending on Veterans’ Day, the DAV Chapter accepted $1,811.00, while at the Golden Corral Restaurant.
This year, according to the Eastgate Store Manager Brandon York, the Eastgate Golden Corral Restaurant provided four hundred and forty-two (442) dinner meals to veterans. This is the twenty-third (23rd) year that the Golden Corral sponsored Military Appreciation Night for veterans.
According to the Golden Corral Restaurant website: “We have served over 6.5 million meals since we’ve started it and we’ve raised over 19.5 million dollars for the Disabled American Veterans.”
All donations accepted by DAV Chapters, throughout the State of Ohio, during the Veterans Day Campaign are forwarded to the DAV Department Headquarters in Columbus for the Department’s Hospital Fund.
Periodically, the Department of Ohio receives requests from Ohio counties for transportation vans. These vans are used for transporting veterans to their medical appointments at Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) facilities.
The Department of Ohio must provide a fifty (50%) match for the submitted applications. The National DAV Headquarters provides the remaining fifty (50%) percent match and the vans are purchased from the Ford Motor Corporation, which provides a substantial discount on the vehicles.
The Ford Motor Corporation has been supporting the DAV since 1921 when it provided fifty (50) Model-T vehicles for the DAV to drive from the East Coast to their San Francisco National Convention. It has also established the Ford Military Oval of Honor in the State of Ohio.
Once the vans are delivered from the Ford Motor Corporation factory, the DAV transfers the vehicles to the VA, which provides the needed insurance and periodic maintenance, and assigns the vans to counties in need of the vehicles.
Last year, the DAV Department of Ohio was able to obtain two (2) transportation vans for rural counties in the northeastern Ohio area.
Army Veteran and DAV Past Department Commander of Ohio, Ray Hutchinson, who was deployed to both Canada and Mexico in the 1960’s, says he has been coming to the Golden Corral for nearly two (2) decades.
It is not only the free dinner or accepting donations for the DAV that gets Hutchinson out for the Military Appreciation Day, but the comradery and familiarity that arises on days like Veterans Day, when surrounded by his fellow servicemen.
“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 of the Golden Corral Corporation.
“Military Appreciation Night is one of our most cherished traditions that we look forward to every year,” continued 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.”
There are 442 veterans, who enjoyed the Golden Corral Appreciation Dinner on November 11, 2024, that would like to personally thank President Trenary for his kindness and words of appreciation.