Brewers' Ryan Braun offers free food to military

Milwaukee Brewers slugger and Wisconsin restauranteur Ryan Braun came up with a neat way to honor U.S. military personnel on Veterans Day.

He's going to feed them.

Ryan Braun's Tavern and Grill in the resort village of Lake Geneva, Wis., is offering a free lunch or dinner entrée to current and former soldiers. Braun said he and the staff had been brainstorming a way to give back.

From Braun's heart (and wallet) to their stomachs.

Braun's motivation is personal: His best friend since third grade is a Navy Seal.

From Adam McCalvy's Brew Beat:

Doug Gallagher is based in Virginia this Veterans Day, but he has served multiple tours both in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I've been able to see and hear what it's all about," Braun said. "So this is something very near and dear to my heart. I look at [it] as an opportunity to do something very small to say thank you to all of the people serving our country."

It's a gracious gesture. There's no one way to properly appreciate those who defend and have defended this country. Every little "thank you" adds up, hopefully.

A head's up: Braun has another restaurant, in Milwaukee, which is not participating in the free entrée program for whatever reason. 

Braun's Lake Geneva place is open 'til 9 p.m. Central.

Braun isn't the only MLB personnel taking note of Veterans Day, of course. Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez and the Arizona Diamondbacks also are among those with stories worth sharing.



(sports.yahoo.com)