MILITARY-COMMUNITY DISCOUNTS/BENEFITS ACCUMULATOR

Army - Navy - Marines - Coast Guard - Air Force

(In order of historical seniority)

Purpose

To gather, all in one convenient place, an accumulation of practical information about the tangible and intangible things this generous nation and people are doing:

• to show their appreciation and respect for the people who serve (or have served) in a military sort of way and 
• to help further balance the books between them and society, fairly and generously.

Layout of this Accumulator-Article

Section 1 -- THE DISCOUNTS -- lays out a link-list of discounts and freebies known to be available.  As this is a standing article, new discoveries can and will be sought and added.  We're going to make this a very comprehensive list.

Section 2 -- HOW VETERANS BENEFITS ARE BESTOWED -- lays out a link-list to the Federal and State agencies directly responsible for administering the nation's will in this area.  This section insures that you do not overlook or have to overly search for something you might wish to know.

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I.  THE DISCOUNTS

Find Thousands of Military Discounts!!

For example
BOTH Lowes and Home Depot (two forward-thinking companies of which we can be proud) offer 10% discounts to veterans and active military, on almost everything!  
You may be asked to show proof of status.

1.  Remember to ask other businesses for their policies and please let me know (by commenting below), so we can help pass the word.  

DO US ALL A FAVOR -- ask EVERY business (kinda loudly) if they have military and veterans discounts.  If they have to say "no" enough times (especially if we walk away), they may see it's to their advantage to start saying "yes."  We all learned the value of teamwork -- and we're still a team, yes?  Well, let's play some ball.  Besides, it seems reasonable to presume that such a "cost" will buy them MORE good will, business, and profits -- not less.  And besides, patriotism permeates the souls of our people -- we all know a good thing when we're privileged to share in it.

2.  An excellently practical link for you is simply this -- click here: A Google Search for "Veterans Discounts."  

• This simple search opens a "doorway" into a world of savings.
• What you find there could mean thousands of dollars in your pocket and
• Acquisition of things you never thought were within reach.   
• And this post will always be on this blog (somewhere), to keep this idea alive.

3.  Military.com Discount Center

4.  Veterans Report -- The Military's Largest Benefits Update 

(This is also from Military.com --  a wonderful source of information

-- if you would like to follow their work more closely than I am able to do for you here, 

-- consider subscribing to their host of excellent free informational services).

5.  FatWallet.Com -- Military Discounts Guide (after 5/25/12)

6.  Military and Veterans Discount Center (on Facebook)

7.  Discounted purchase of Microsoft Office for Military (from article on this blog)

8.  Free Annual Passes -- all active duty military are entitled to a free annual pass that will grant access to service members and their dependents, to more than 2,000 sites across the country, including National Parks.

9.  **** HUGE LIST OF STORES WITH MILITARY DISCOUNTS & SPECIALS ****

II.  HOW VETERANS BENEFITS ARE 

BESTOWED

SOCIAL BENEFITS, IN GENERAL

• Benefits.Gov -- empowers people to make decisions for themselves and their families by providing a single website where they have access to information on nearly 1,000 government benefit and assistance programs --  And Wikipedia Discussion
• Veterans Benefits -- Wikipedia discussion
• Personal Financial Benefits of Military Service -- Wikipedia discussion

FEDERAL VETERANS PROGRAM

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (the Veterans Administration)
Military Benefits Offered by the Services (Google search)
Military Benefits (Google search for related Wikipedia discussions)

Military Benefit Association (Wikipedia discussion)

STATE VETERAN PROGRAMS

Veterans Services Offered by INDIVIDUAL STATES 

• VA.gov's Table of States
•  Google general search for state programs

HAPPY BARGAIN-HUNTING 
AND SELF-RENEWAL!  

WE DO DESERVE IT, 
ELSE OUR WISE AND MUCH BELOVED NATION WOULDN'T BE OFFERING!  

David Nelson