COLUMBUS, Ga. - Veterans Day freebies come and go in a single day, but a handful of Columbus attractions and national chains with stores here keep a military price on the books all year. The savings are modest, usually $1 to $2 off a ticket or 10% off a bill, but they add up for a Fort Benning family that visits the same museums and stores again and again. This guide lists the standing offers Columbus Times could confirm on each business's own website as of mid-November, plus the documents that get you the discount.

Every offer below is a published, year-round policy, not a holiday promotion. Terms can change without notice, and many restaurant and store discounts are set by individual franchise owners, so ask before you order or check out. Call ahead if a discount is the reason for your trip.

Museums and attractions

The biggest military benefit in town is one everyone gets: the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center charges no admission fee, according to its visitor page. The museum asks for a suggested $5 donation per person, parking is free and it is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It closes early at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, according to its 2026 special-hours list. The galleries are the same for every visitor, so the military savings at the museum come from the extras below.

The extras at the museum carry their own prices. The Giant Screen Theater charges $8 for general admission to documentaries and $7 for military, students and seniors, and Hollywood films cost $10, or $9 with the military rate, according to the theater page. The virtual reality simulators, which run $7 to $25, do not list a military rate.

The National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus, 1002 Victory Drive, lists a $10 rate for seniors and military against $12 for other adults, plus sales tax. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, according to its website. Children 6 and under and museum members get in free.

The Coca-Cola Space Science Center at 701 Front Ave. charges $8 for military, first responders and educators, compared with $10 for adults 13 and older. It is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it is closed Sundays. Children 4 to 12 pay $6, and the center says children under 3 get in free with each paid adult.

Whitewater Express, which runs rafting trips on the Chattahoochee in Uptown, says on its FAQ page that it gives 10% off all trips to military personnel. The outfitter says the discount requires an official military ID and is available in the store only, not online. That makes it worth booking in person or calling the shop first.

Stores, restaurants and phone plans

Lowe's offers an everyday 10% military discount on most full-priced items in stores and on Lowes.com, according to the company's military page. Honorably serving and former members of the armed forces and their spouses can enroll, but they must verify through ID.me and a Lowe's online account first. The discount does not apply to sale items, services, major appliances, lumber, plywood, wire or gift cards, and it cannot be combined with other offers.

Outback Steakhouse's Heroes Discount takes 10% off the entire check every day for veterans, service members, police, firefighters and medical workers, according to the chain's website. Military guests can show a uniformed services ID, a retired ID, a recent Leave and Earnings Statement, a DD-214, a Veteran ID Card or a photo in uniform. The chain allows one discount per table, excludes alcohol for military guests and does not offer it on online orders.

Verizon advertises a 10% monthly "Those Who Serve" discount for eligible military members, first responders, nurses and teachers on qualifying plans. The company says approved verification documents are required and the offer is limited to one per account. Other carriers have their own programs, so compare the final monthly price, not just the percentage.

Discount tickets on post

Soldiers, retirees, Guard and Reserve members, Department of War civilians, eligible dependents and 100% disabled veterans can also buy discounted tickets through Fort Benning's Leisure Travel Services office, according to Army MWR. The office is in Building 9230, its phone number is 706-626-7644, and it lists hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. It sells reduced-price tickets for theme parks, sporting events, concerts and other attractions, which can beat a gate discount.

6 ways to prove you served

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says, in guidance updated Nov. 13, 2026, that a veteran needs only one form of ID to claim a discount. The options below are the ones the VA and the businesses above name. Keep a photo of your discharge papers at home, not in your wallet, because the cards below avoid sharing your Social Security number at a register.

• Department of Defense ID card. Active-duty troops, retirees, and Guard and Reserve members carry a Common Access Card or Uniformed Services ID, issued at RAPIDS offices.
• Veteran Health Identification Card. Veterans enrolled in VA health care receive this card and can use it for retail discounts, the VA says.
• Veteran ID Card. This digital card is for veterans with an honorable or general discharge, and new cards have been digital-only since September 2022, according to the VA.
• Veteran designation on a driver's license. Georgia DDS issues a veteran license to people with honorable active-duty service or 20 years in the National Guard, and qualified veterans may get it free with a DS516B form approved by the Georgia Department of Veterans Service.
• DD-214. Some businesses, including Outback, accept discharge papers, but it is safer to show another ID.
• ID.me. Lowe's and many online retailers verify military status through ID.me before the discount works.

Discounts change often, and a policy on a corporate website does not always reach every local store. Ask at the counter, and bring the ID before you need it. If a business has dropped a military price listed here, Columbus Times wants to know.