Free lunch offered for veterans on Memorial Day

COEUR d'ALENE - A free lunch for area veterans will be held at the Coeur d'Alene Capone's Pub and Grill, 751 N. Fourth St., from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, May 31, for Memorial Day.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling 667-1539 or (509) 993-8123 before 4 p.m. on May 28.

Capone's owner Tom Capone and Edward Jones agent Eric Soles are teaming up to organize the event, which may become an annual event or extended to Veterans Day if successful.

"There will be no sales pitch or presentation," Soles said. "We're strictly offering a free lunch to say thank you to those who protect our freedoms."

Spouses, friends and relatives of veterans are welcome to attend, but will have to pay for their meal.

Soles said the meal is open to all veterans, not just those volunteering at Memorial Day events. Attendees will be given menu items to choose from.

The meal will be paid for by Hartford Mutual Funds, one of Soles' vendors, Soles, Capone and Capone's vendors, if necessary.

Soles said if the event is successful, it may be opened to spouses in the future for free and a benefit account may be set up for the community to contribute to.

"We just wanted to see how it goes this first year," Soles said.

Capone's will be open to the public on Memorial Day and a portion of the restaurant has been reserved for the veteran meal.