STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — For the 18th year, Applebee’s restaurants nationwide are feeding veterans on Veterans Day — but on Staten Island, the tradition comes with a heartfelt twist that’s become a borough-wide custom.
Army veterans Anthony Savarese and Carmine Fava share thanks with servers at South Shore Applebee’s during a Veterans Day lunch.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Krista Barreca, general manager of the Applebee’s at 2720 Veterans Road West, spearheads a card-writing campaign now in its third year. What began as a small gesture has grown into an effort that gathers roughly 500 handwritten notes annually from community members to honor local veterans. The cards — collected through Facebook outreach — come from churches, Scout troops and organizations across the borough.
Cards are hung in every corner of the South Shore Applebee’s.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
“I grew up here, so I reached out on Facebook — and the response was overwhelming,” Barreca said. “People really wanted to do something personal for our veterans. It’s not just a meal, it’s a message that says, ‘We see you, we appreciate you.’”
Some notes came with candy and, in one instance, a box of raisins.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
The restaurant displays the cards on its walls for a week before Veterans Day, then gives them to veterans who come in for their complimentary meals.
Images were colored carefully between the lines. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
“Last year, a blind veteran had his card read aloud by Girl Scouts,” Barreca recalled. “He was moved to tears. It was one of those moments that reminds you why we do this.”
All the notes were made with care. Some were hung around the restaurant while others were given by the staff to veterans who were touched by the messages. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Some cards contain heartfelt messages, while others include small gifts—candy or in one instance a box of raisins.
“One little girl wrote, ‘Thank you for being brave so I can play outside,’” Barreca said. “It’s simple, but it means everything.”
Flags, hearts plus Stars and Stripes adorned greetings. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Barreca believes the tradition teaches younger generations about gratitude and patriotism. “Everyone sends text messages; no one does ‘snail mail’ anymore,” she said. “This is like really writing a letter with proper penmanship. It slows you down and makes you think about what you’re saying.”
Joe “Preach” Meizlik, head of the South Shore Food Pantry and a veteran himself, says he’s grateful for Krista Barreca’s generosity — whether through the card-writing campaign or the restaurant’s ongoing donations.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
The restaurant serves about 500 veterans at this location alone on Veterans Day. Popular menu choices include steak, burgers, and Fiesta Lime Chicken. Even younger staff members request to work the event, despite it falling on a Tuesday when they typically wouldn’t be scheduled.
“They want to be part of it,” Barreca said. “They say, ‘I want to shake hands and say thank you.’ That’s powerful.”
Krista Barrecca has been with Applebee’s since 2005 at the Mall location where she started as a server. As a general manager, she enjoys the sense of community her South Shore Applebee’s brings, especially on holidays like Veteran’s Day. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)A tradition that grew
This tradition has continued under new ownership. Two years ago, Doherty Enterprises acquired Apple-Metro’s 21 restaurants, including Staten Island’s four locations. The New Jersey-based company operates more than 140 restaurants across New York, New Jersey, Georgia and Florida, including Panera Bread, Chevys Fresh Mex, Shannon Rose Irish Pub, Spuntino Wine Bar and Sola Salon Studios.
Barreca, who has been with the company since 2005, began her career at the Staten Island Mall Applebee’s — the first Applebee’s in the New York area. She knew previous owners Zane Tankel and Roy Raeburn, who introduced the brand to Staten Island in October 1994 with that inaugural location.
“I’ve seen this company grow, and I’ve seen the community grow with it,” she said. “The spirit of giving has always been there.”
This corner of the restaurant includes flags on each card. Barrecca and her staff enjoy decorating the restaurant to the delight of patriotic customers. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)Beyond Veterans Day
Applebee’s community outreach extends beyond Veterans Day. Local organizations that have benefited include Kids Against Cancer, American Cancer Society, Eden II, The Grace Foundation, Where To Turn, Have A Heart Foundation, the YMCA of Greater New York, the St. George Theatre, Staten Island Children’s Museum, animal rescue groups and youth athletic programs.
Hundreds of cards are strung around the restaurant. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Applebee’s Breakfast with Santa has been a 25-year tradition in the borough, supporting children’s programs. The restaurant also stepped up after Hurricane Sandy. “When Sandy hit, we didn’t think twice,” Barreca said. “We cooked, we delivered, we did whatever we could.”
Doherty Enterprises continues this commitment through its “Doherty Difference” program, which states: “We don’t just want to donate food and be on our way — we want to be out in our communities talking with you, our neighbors.”
Applebee’s serves a free meal to veterans each year and keeps the generosity going through the December holidays. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)A Moment of Reflection
On this brisk November afternoon, the South Shore Applebee’s was filled with gratitude. Army veterans Anthony Savarese and Carmine Fava met while working a civilian job. As they left the restaurant, they thanked the young servers at the host station, who replied, “Thank you for your service.”
Clearly touched, Fava struggled to find words. Separately, a fellow patron and Vietnam veteran summed it up best: “I don’t want to get emotional. But when we came home, they hated us. Now, I can truly appreciate the love.”
Applebee’s wants friends and supporters of its Staten Island locations and beyond to thank a vet. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.