Restaurant Gives Veterans a Taste of Their Appreciation - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Restaurant Gives Veterans a Taste of Their Appreciation

A Veteran's Day ceremony was canceled at the State Capitol this weekend due to weather, but Monday, North Dakota veterans get just a taste of the appreciation felt for them.

"As soon as we opened the doors, the entire restaurant was filled..." says Elizabeth Gabbert/Texas Roadhouse Manager.

The restaurant normally doesn't open for lunch on Mondays, except for this day: to serve those who have served our country.

"It's definitely our time where we can show the veterans that we appreciate them, not only year-round, but having a day especially for them, we really like." says Gabbert.

Stan Dolbinski of Bismarck is one of hundreds of veterans who stepped in from the cold to warm up with a hot meal on the house.

"I think a six ounce sirloin..." says Stan Dolbinski/WWII Vet.

"They have good food here..." says George Glasby/Bismarck/Vietnam Vet

The manager says this is her fourth year of serving the troops in Bismarck--with a smile.

She says every year the turnout gets bigger and better, but one thing never changes.

"I love the fact that they are all really appreciative, that's something that's so nice in our veterans, you find that common courtesy, they take that extra 30 seconds to say thank you, rather than someone who gets something for free, and it's like okay bye, they take that extra couple seconds to say thank you to the host." says Gabbert.

"You just don't know how much we appreciate things like that." says George Glasby.

They were at capacity of 300 people during the lunch hour.