They served our country to protect our freedom, and now they serve you and me from behind the counters of their dining establishments. To that we say, “Thank you.”

And in response, two Grand Strand restaurateurs say they do it so no one forgets what our military has done and continues to do for our country.

Lou Mascherino and his wife, Rhonda, opened Veterans Café & Grill on Shine Avenue behind The Market Common on Veterans Day in 2009.  It’s about a block from the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and on the former Air Force base in Myrtle Beach.

Aside from having the best cheesesteaks south of South Street in Philly, Veterans Café has the nourishment that patrons (civilian and veterans alike) need to see, touch and read on the walls, the ceilings and the doors. Military memorabilia dates back to World War I in the form of uniforms, photos, patches, newspaper clippings, flags, model airplanes, coins, helmets—from local vets to those who served the British Army and beyond.

“It all started right here on the menu when we first opened,” Mascherino, an Army veteran and native of Downingtown, Pa., points to a request for memorabilia and photos on the menu. “And now we have 500 items. Now it’s part of our lives. … It’s not just a restaurant, it’s a place of honor and respect for those who have memories they can see and talk about.”

The moving stories from patrons he’s met are endless, like the female three-star surgeon general who placed a rare coin in Mascherino’s hand; the Vietnam War vet who just stood in the middle of the dining room and cried; and the wife who says her husband won’t talk about the war until he sits here for lunch.

Deborah and Felix Serra, co-owners of Mr. G’s Ice Cream & Grill  on 17th Avenue South in North Myrtle Beach, also reach out to veterans. Deborah is an Army vet and Felix is an active E-8 master sergeant who won a Bronze Star for his bravery in Afghanistan. Deborah’s uncle, Navy veteran Gattis, is the restaurant’s namesake.

On D-Day this year, the Serras fed all military veterans and active-duty military all day. A sign on the front of the shop announces a 10 percent discount on food at all times. “Thousands show me their military IDs around here,” says Deborah.

Deborah tells stories of veteran patrons like one of the only survivors of Normandy, who lives in Calabash, now on kidney dialysis because of seaweed ingestion from that day. “Those are the real heroes,” says Deborah. “And I don’t want them to ever be forgotten.”

On Veteran’s Day at Veterans Café & Grill, 1144 Shine Ave. in Myrtle Beach, all patrons will receive 50 percent off their meal. Visit them on Facebook for updates. Due to their seasonal hours, Mr. G’s Ice Cream & Grill, 310 17th Ave. S. in North Myrtle Beach, may not be open. Call (843) 272-3766 for updates.