By RYAN CHRISTNER

rchristner@dailynews.net

Veteran's Day might have passed, but at least one more show of appreciation is planned next week as Golden Corral and Disabled American Veterans once again have teamed up to provide free meals to past and current military personnel.

For the past eight years, the food chain and national veterans advocacy group have teamed up to host "Military Appreciation Monday" events at restaurants across the country.

The Hays location, 383 Mopar Drive, has participated for the past seven years and will do so again from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday.

Any person who has served or is serving in the U.S. military, including the national guard and reserve units, is eligible for the free dinner, although others wishing to meet and eat alongside them are encouraged to attend as well, said Karen Wise, general manager of the local eatery.

"Everything we provide on a regular basis is provided," Wise said of the beverages, buffet and nightly specialty items that will be included with the meal.

Restaurant staff will be dressed in appropriately colored garb, the Victoria Community Band and a disc jockey will play patriotic music and local Boy Scouts will help seat veterans and bus tables. The Legion Riders motorcycle group will be in attendance, and a large American flag will welcome veterans from atop the ladder of a fire truck.

Wise described it as "one of the biggest events that we do."

Monday typically is a slow night of the week, which is perfect, Wise said, as a large number of veterans will be able to be easily served.

Throughout its history, Military Appreciation Monday events across the country have provided more than 1.8 million meals and, as DAV groups typically have donation baskets on site, have raised more than $2.53 million for the veterans organization.

About 400 veterans were served last year in Hays, Wise said, while approximately 322,000 vets ate free across the country.

Taft Yates, a member of the DAV chapter that serves Ellis County and the surrounding areas, said he anticipates the attendance will be about the same this year.

"Every year, it's gone up just a little bit," he said.

In addition to being an appreciation event and a chance for veterans to socialize and have fun, Yates said DAV looks at the event as an opportunity to raise awareness of the group, whose mission is "helping eligible veterans receive all the benefits and services they have earned through their sacrifices for their country," according to its Web site.

DAV boasts a membership of "well over half of all veterans eligible for DAV membership," some 1.44 million disabled veterans, the site says.

Any serviceman or woman who has been wounded, gassed, injured or disabled in the line of duty is eligible to join DAV, presuming they have not been dishonorably discharged. This includes current American citizens who served in the armed forces of foreign countries allied with the U.S. during any war time.

In addition to Monday's event, every Golden Corral restaurant will have special postcards available for the purpose of sending personal messages to troops overseas.

The postcards will be available through Monday, and postage will be covered by the restaurant. Local manager Wise said the Hays location has "a few left."

Other Golden Corral restaurants in Kansas are located in Garden City, Wichita, Emporia, Topeka and Olathe.