The Chick-fil-A restaurant in Southern Pines, located at 10735 South U.S. 15-501, will honor servicemen and women Thursday, Nov. 11, for the restaurant's third annual Veterans Day celebration.

The restaurant will host patriotic activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will offer a free Chick-fil-A meal to any current or retired military personnel from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. Chick-fil-A will host a benefit for the Soldier and Family Assistance Center (SFAC), offering financial services, family programs and donations for soldiers and their families assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB), where wounded, ill or injured soldiers are assigned as they heal and transition.

Military customers can arrive in uniform or present military identification, veterans association I.D. or other proof of service to receive their free meal.

Beginning at 11 a.m., members of the Army National Guard will attend the event with military vehicles, and the Special Forces Association will also be in attendance with videos, photos and information about the Special Operations Command. Then, at 1 p.m., the Pinecrest High School Color Guard will perform a flag ceremony, and Gordon Dozier will sing the national anthem.

Finally, at 1:30 p.m. the restaurant will host the Green Berets Demonstration Team, which will paraglide to the restaurant from a plane sitting at an altitude of 1,000 feet. In addition, the lucky customer who catches a parachuting plush Chick-fil-A "Eat Mor Chikin" Cow with the golden ticket will win free Chick-fil-A for a year.

"We want to honor the tremendous service of all the servicemen and women who tirelessly commit themselves to the protection of our country," said Eric Corbett, franchise operator of the restaurant. "We hope the Southern Pines community will join us again this year for a meaningful Veterans Day aimed to celebrate and honor our local heroes. Chick-fil-A would like to thank the Green Beret Demonstration Team, the Army National Guard, and the Special Forces Association for their participation in this event."