By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Hays Golden Corral restaurant, 383 W. Mopar Dr., will participate in the 2014 Military Appreciation Monday this evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Taft Yates, Master Sergeant, Ret., now the Ellis police chief, said all area veteran and active duty military members are invited to “enjoy the free meal and comradery served with a ‘Thank You’ for your service.”

Yates enlisted in the U.S. army in 1975 and retired in 1995. He spent 19 of his 20 years in various Ranger assignments.

Last year’s Golden Corral Military Appreciation Monday dinner honored honoring more than 433,500 veterans and active duty military nationwide with a free dinner buffet and beverage. All Golden Corral restaurants nationwide participated in the event to honor military heroes, past and present.

Golden Corral restaurants and guests contributed a record total of more than $1,409,000 for the Disabled American Veterans organization to be used by state and local chapters to assist veterans.

It was the fourth consecutive year that Golden Corral restaurants and their guests have raised over $1 million dollars for the DAV.