by Susan Young
Last updated: 8:00 AM ET, Sat September 23, 2017
Each year, Veterans' Day brings parades and platitudes, honoring retired United States military service men and women.
Parades and platitudes are nice, but how about giving them something tangible in the form of a relaxing overnight stay at a Bed & Breakfast of their choice?
Inns participating with the B&Bs for Vets promotion are doing just that by offering one complimentary night at a selection throughout the country.
"This is the first year we have been involved in the B&Bs for Vets and we wanted to give back to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for us all," said Keith and Melissa of Cranes Rest Bed & Breakfast in Homer, Alaska
On the tenth anniversary of the program, B&Bs and Inns throughout the U.S. and Canada will offer retired and active veterans free lodging for one night on, or around, Veteran's Day, November 11. B&Bs for Vets is an initiative of the Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals (AIHP), a non-profit trade organization "focusing on best practices for success for independent hospitality professionals and their allied partners through education, advocacy, networking and more."
"I think this program is such a great idea that I have expanded it. Because my B&B filled right away I gave alternative days to any vet who contacted me," said Noel Aderer of Peep-Willow Farm Bed & Breakfast in Marlborough, New Hampshire.
Kathleen Panek, of Gillum House in Shinnston, West Virginia, originated the idea after reading about someone extending a free room to a vet.
Running with the idea, she posted a notice on her website in 2008, offering free rooms to anyone in the military on Veteran's Day. That year, she received just one response from a Navy man. By 2009, nine other members of the West Virginia Bed & Breakfast Association joined in and, with additional PR throughout the country, the idea went viral.
Concerned also for the spouse of the veteran, Kathleen states, "I just want to honor, not only the veteran, but the one person no one EVER thinks to thank-the spouse/partner who keeps the home front while their military partner gets deployed or TDY."
As the result of hosting a wounded veteran and his wife, Kathleen has also started donating a percentage of the B&B's proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project and Operation Second Chance.
"This is my second year giving nights to vets. My experience last year was wonderful and a vet has booked for this year," said Gigi Trabant of Gigi's Bed & Breakfast in San Francisco, California.
Since then, thousands of rooms have been booked through B&Bs for Vets across the country, with Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Paris and Namibia participating. BBCanada has gotten on board stating, "We are encouraging our member B&Bs across Canada to help honor vets and active military personnel with free rooms for them on Remembrance Day. It is our way of saying thank you for their dedication to our country."
"We find it wonderfully rewarding to have the opportunity to host a veteran or active duty service member to our Inn. These people volunteer to serve to protect our way of life. This offer from us for a complimentary night is, as we think, a small token of a much larger level of thanks and gratitude to those we can host," said George and Mary Anne of Brass Lantern Inn in Stowe, Vermont.
The Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association (ABBA) boasts that all fifteen of their member Inns are participating with the program this year. Rick Bell, of Engadine Inns & Cabins, offers his cabins to Veterans and their families. The setup is not just "adult-only," like most B&Bs, but also welcomes children and pets.
Bell remarks, "I can't believe more B&Bs across the country don't get on board. Not a lot is asked of us, considering what these people have sacrificed and the commitment they've made to the country."
"We offer a free room on 11 November, as well as 2 for 1 for vets at other times of the year," said Robin Berry, of Robin's Nest B&B in Cody, Wyoming.
Anyone with a valid military ID from the U.S. government, qualified as active duty, retired, National Guard and/or Reserves, will meet the requirements of each Bed & Breakfast. If you show a Veterans Administration ID, having been drafted or having served in the Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf Wars, Grenada-basically, anyone who did boot camp and qualified for Veterans Administration benefits-you may take advantage of this offer.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Meet the Military Vet Turned Travel Agent[/READMORE]
Also, if you check the B&Bs for Vets website and do not see a facility listed in your area, keep checking as more and more Inns will be added, the closer we get to November 11.
"We always look forward to participating every year because it is an opportunity to give back and recognize those who have given so much for our freedom. We have gotten to meet some incredible people with incredible stories to tell about their time in the service," said -Kaylee from Woods Hole Inn in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
"Personally, I can still recall two years ago when a gentleman who served in World War II commented on my visible arm tattoo (a replica of my grandfather's tattoo he got in the service in the 50s). This gentleman shared with me how those iconic military tattoos were given on the boats back in his days, and (laughingly explained) that was why he didn't have any. He was such a character and always had a smile."
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