National Donut Day, which comes around annually on the first Friday of June, isn't just promotional permission to partake in pastries – the celebration has some historical heft.
The Salvation Army established National Donut Day in 1938 to honor the organization's Donut Lassies and Donut Girls, women who traveled to France to serve donuts and other snacks to soldiers during World War I. "National Donut Day is a time to remember the lasting impact of a unique piece of history and to honor the heroic men and women who have served our country," said The Salvation Army's national commander, Merle Heatwole, in a press release.
The Salvation Army will distribute donuts to veterans in several cities across the U.S. and have other events, including the National Donut Day World Donut Eating Championship, scheduled to be held at the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Across the U.S., donut distributors – large and small – also participate in National Donut Day; big names Dunkin' and Krispy Kreme, which officially call them "doughnuts," will be giving away free donuts on June 6.
Yes, there's a free donut deal at Dunkin'. You can get a free classic donut with any beverage purchase at participating Dunkin' locations nationwide on June 6.
