If you need a landing spot for a holiday meal, here's your sign!
A new tradition
This was my second year to celebrate Thanksgiving with my life-long friend, Kathy M., at Denny’s. We’re both single, enjoy each other’s company and going to Denny’s means good food and good coffee without a mess to clean up after. We even ran into other friends from our church there this time, too, who’ve also adopted Denny’s for the holidays.
We meet early, usually between 1100 and 1130 and this year, I’d been invited to join some of my cousins in the afternoon for their holiday family gathering. They live in the same county, giving us plenty of time to enjoy our visit. That’s another thing I love about Denny’s, they don’t mind if we linger, especially at the I-64/Hwy 41 location in Southern Indiana.
It’s a fav go to meeting place for our area. We’re always greeted by friendly staff and enjoy being supportive of a business that adds quality to our community.
The Jarhead Brat Pack
After a wonderful lunch and visit, Kathy and I parted ways. I was about to head out of the lot when I realized I'd had a lot of coffee and probably needed a pit stop before heading across the county to my cousin’s home. Rather than leaving I made a semi-circle into a parking spot near their fuel station/convenience store to take care of business before leaving.
I also wanted a fresh java for the road.
I went in, got sorted and stepped to the counter to pay up. The attendant, Ryan, was very friendly and asked if I had a Pilot Flying J. rewards card. I didn’t but I’m not in that area more than a few times a year, so didn’t think I needed one and declined the offer.
Then he asked me if I’d like to include a $3 donation to go towards their U.S. military veteran support programs. That was a no-brainer. I was happy to make the donation. As Ryan totaled my bill, he explained that veterans with the Pilot Flying J rewards program would receive a 10% discount on food and beverages throughout the year when using the app.
That’s when it got personal. I told him I would love to donate $3 and was thrilled Pilot Flying J was providing the easy opportunity to do it. I shared that my family is largely military and that my sister and I are Jarhead Brats (US Marine’s kids). Turns out, so is Ryan. That made us immediate family.
This is Ryan!
It's always a privilege to get acquainted with another Jarhead brat, and especially those who live and work in the area. Corps families will always have family wherever they are.
I must add here, we do have every branch well represented in our family and very grateful to and proud of all of them for their sacrifice and service.
Ryan was the first one to explain the Pilot Flying J rewards programs specifically honoring veterans and thanking civilians, so it’s him that gets the kudos for making their newest fan and I couldn’t wait to brag on him and them and get the info to you in this week’s edition.
Below is a breakdown on how to get Pilot Flying J rewards for both military vets and civilians, as well as the benefits they provide.
Flying J Rewards Program
☙ Called myRewards and is managed through the RewardsPlus app that you can download from your mobile’s store.
☙ Members can earn points for fuel and in-store purchases, which can be redeemed for free drinks, snacks, showers, and more.
☙Professional drivers can earn even more points per gallon and free showers by meeting certain fuel purchase thresholds, and can also use features like mobile fueling and parking reservations within the app.
☙Fueling: Earn points for every gallon of fuel purchased. Professional drivers can activate "PushForPoints" each month to earn up to 4 or even 5 points per gallon after a certain number of qualifying fills.
☙ In-store purchases: Use your app or card at the register to earn points on other purchases.
☙ Axle Fuel Card: Users of the Axle Fuel Card also earn an extra bonus point per gallon.
☙ Special offers: The app provides exclusive deals, challenges, and birthday freebies
Redeeming rewards
☙ Free drinks: Earn a free drink after purchasing nine coffees.
☙ Showers: Earn free showers with every 50-gallon diesel purchase, and get a free daily shower for the rest of the month and the next if you fuel over 1,000 gallons in a month ("Shower Power").
☙ Food and merchandise: Redeem your points for food, drinks, and merchandise in-store.
The app features include...
☙ Mobile fueling: Start fueling from your phone to save time and stay in your vehicle.
☙ Shower and parking reservations: Book showers and reserve parking spaces directly through the app.
☙ Transaction history: View and email up to 18 months of digital receipts.
Route planning: Plan your route and find locations that meet your needs.
Yup! Driven by an employee of Pilot Flying J!
Love it!
For the Military Discount
☙ Download the myRewards Plus app. (Get the app from your phone's app store.)
☙ Verify your status: Use http://ID.me to verify your military status within the app.
☙ Enjoy savings! The 10% discount is automatically applied to food and beverage purchases when you use your myRewards account at checkout.
Includes...
☙ Pilot coffee and fountain drinks
☙ Hot and cold food items from the deli and other participating fast food restaurants
☙ Non-alcoholic cooler beverages
☙ Candy and snacks
Additional benefits
☙ Pilot Flying J frequently offers exclusive deals to military members and veterans through the app, which can include free food and drinks, especially around holidays like Veterans Day.
☙ Pilot Flying J also supports the military community through other initiatives, such as its Miles of Good program, which includes donations to organizations like the Call of Duty Endowment that helps veterans find jobs.
A trucker's home away from home for the holiday.
Last, yet definitely not least...
Pilot Flying J also allows free, overnight parking for cars, SUVs, trucks and big rigs. They have food, beverages, over the counter meds, travel supplies and showers available, and some provide propane tank trade-ins for traveling campers.
On a long trip, when you're hungry and need some rest, try Pilot Flying J!
I’ve travelled cross-country many, many times, and Pilot Flying J has always been a safe landing spot when I needed a few hours of rest before continuing further. And, for the record, of the travel stations that don’t allow for this, nor accommodate our truck drivers in big rigs, I don’t give them business. Truckers are the main folks providing us a stable supply chain for everything from dry goods, to food and medical supplies.
Cast your bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
The wrap!
I pray your holiday season is saturated with love and blessings. Even with life’s many challenges and losses, each year I have many things to be thankful for. Above all for my Lord’s great grace, mercy and provision.
My sincere thanks to Pilot Flying J for being an excellent part of Thanksgiving 2025 and for their excellent support and appreciation of both military and civilian customers. Bravo Zulu and Semper Fi!
Shalom-shalom,
Angelia
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